Written question asked by Lindsay Hoyle (Labour) on Tuesday, 22 June 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 29 June 2004. It was answered by Ivor Caplin (Labour) on Tuesday, 29 June 2004 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Ministry of Defence

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which countries have Commonwealth war graves; how many graves are located in each; and how often they are inspected. - Inc figures.

Answer: Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which countries have Commonwealth war graves; how many graves are located in each; and how often they are inspected. [180697] Mr. Caplin: The Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) maintains over 1,179,000 war graves at 23,203 burial sites in 148 countries around the world. It also commemorates a further 760,193 Commonwealth war dead on memorials to the missing, for whom there is no known grave. The CWGC inspect their graves and cemeteries on a regular basis, but the inspection cycle varies from country to country. In the United Kingdom, where the care of the majority of war graves in civil cemeteries and churchyards is entrusted to local authorities and contractors, inspections are made every six months; however in churchyards and cemeteries that contain very few war graves, there is a three-year cycle. In more distant locations (e.g. South America), where inspections by CWGC staff may be less frequent, reports are obtained from third parties (e.g. consular staff). Further detailed information related to the countries which have Commonwealth war graves and how many graves are located in each cemetery is available from the CWGC website at: www.cwgc.org/cwgcinternet/search

Secondary information