Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether HMT Empire Windrush has been designated as a war grave.

While the term ‘war grave’ is used in common parlance, there is no legal definition that applies at sea (or on land). Therefore, the wreck of the HMT Empire Windrush cannot be designated in this manner.

The wreck is not designated under the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986, the Protection of Wrecks Act 1973, nor the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979.

This does not detract from the ship continuing to act as an extraordinary and enduring symbol of the contribution of the Windrush generation to the United Kingdom.