Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that human remains found among the scrap of the battleship HMS Prince of Wales and battlecruiser HMS Repulse are given a fitting burial by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Investigations into the illegal salvage are still ongoing. The Ministry of Defence is unable to provide a response regarding the presence of human remains until these investigations have concluded.

If the remains of British Service personnel are identified, the Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre (JCCC) will ensure that they are afforded a dignified military funeral and final resting place.

In unfortunate cases where there may be insufficient evidence, resource or capacity to name the deceased they will remain 'unknown', but be afforded the appropriate dignity and respect. Similarly, in cases where the evidence set may be too broad, remains are afforded a shared, final resting place.