The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

spoons · Posted: Tue Nov 17, 2009 3:36 pm Post subject: Early Day Motion - War Memorials

Two early day motions have been made in the House of Commons recently concerning war memorials. http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDetails.aspx?EDMID=39041&SESSION=899 and more importantly http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDetails.aspx?EDMID=39301&SESSION=899

The text of the latter is worth repeating here

"That this House praises the British Legion's Roll of Honour, English Heritage, Historic Scotland, the War Memorials Trust, the Imperial War Museum and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission for their work dedicated to commemorating those who have died as a result of conflict and to preserving war memorials in the UK and abroad; calls upon the Government to examine ways of assisting communities to preserve and restore the UK's war memorials and rolls of honour in advance of the 100th anniversary of the outbreak of the First World War in August 1914; and further calls on the Government to establish a national code of practice to protect war memorials from destruction, and to have a national day of commemoration on the 100th anniversary of the outbreak of the First World War."

This EDM was signed by 208 MPs and I wrote to my MP (Russell Brown) to congratulate him on signing the EDM, to enquire if this is solely a Westminster matter or if Scottish Parliament needs to be involved, to inform him of the work of SWMP and SWGP, to highlight the increasing national and international interest in the subject and finally to express my concern over lack of funding for UKNIWM. (full text of my letter available on request).

I received his reply today which included
"In respect of whether the content of the EDM would require separate legislation in Scotland, I believe that this issue would be dealt with through the Ministry of Defence, however if I do find out differently, I will let you know.
Thank you for highlighting the work of the Scottish War Memorials Project and the Scottish War Graves Project which you are a member of and I will, of course, provide your contact details to anyone who may make enquiries with my office. (I had invited him to do this)
You have raised your concerns regarding funding of the UK National Inventory of War Memorials and I have written to Kevan Jones MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for Veterans) Ministry of Defence, to raise your concerns with him and I have asked for his comments.
I will be back in touch when I am in receipt of a response but if I can be of any further assistance in the meantime, please do not hesitate to let me know."

\Paul