asked the Secretary of State for Air whether Royal Air Force personnel killed in the United Kingdom may still be buried under arrangements made by the relatives; and whether he will in future refrain from debiting the dead man's estate with the undertaker's charges but leave the undertaker to deal in this matter direct with the relatives?

Yes, Sir. The arrangements referred to by my hon. and gallant Friend remain in operation and may be followed whenever practicable. In regard to the second part of the question, relatives may deal direct with the undertaker if they wish to do so. Where settlement is not effected in this way, it is a statutory obligation under the Regimental Debts Act, 1893, to treat funeral expenses as a first charge against the estate.