He was given a full ceremonial burial on 16 March 2017 at Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery, Germany.

The service, led by Reverend Rebekah Cannon, Chaplain of RAF College Cranwell, was attended by representatives of the Royal Air Force, the British Embassy in Berlin and the Royal British Legion. Current members of the Queen’s Colour Squadron paid tribute to their former colleague by providing a bearer party for his coffin.

Reverend Rebekah Cannon, who led the service said:

It’s been incredibly moving to lay this brave young man to rest today and to be part of his military family here to pay him our final respects.

Wilfred Lawson was born on 24 April 1918 at Penrith in Cumberland, youngest child of John and Elizabeth Lawson. He was 25 years old when he died. He had two older siblings, William and Elizabeth.

Wilfred joined the Royal Air Force in July 1936, before which he had worked for an ironmonger in King’s Street, Penrith. He started his RAF career as an Aircraftman Grade 2, progressing through the ranks to Sergeant by the time of his death. In September 1940 he married Margaret Grace Flood and they lived on Sefton Terrace, Leeds.

Sgt Lawson’s remains were discovered in September 2014 by the Vermisstenforschung Deutschland, a German group interested in researching those missing in war. Although there were no identifying items found with the remains, the site was known to be where his Lancaster bomber LL721 had crashed in January 1944.

Investigation work led by the MOD’s Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre (JCCC), part of Defence Business Services, showed that of the 7 crew members, 3 were captured and held as prisoners of war, 2 were killed and buried at the time in the Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery and 2 remained listed as missing and were commemorated on the Royal Air Force memorial at Runnymede, Surrey.

It was possible to identify the remains through DNA analysis of samples from both Sgt Lawson’s distant surviving family and relatives of the other missing airman.

Enid Townson, first cousin once removed of Sgt Lawson said:

It’s amazing news that Wilfred’s remains have been found and laid to rest in Berlin. I just wish that his parents and siblings had known during their lifetime what had happened to him.

They never quite gave up hope that there could have been a mistake and that he might one day come home.

Peter Nelson, first cousin once removed said:

We give Wilfred our thanks for his bravery in defending the free world. Although he’s been lost for so many years he’s now been found and will be in our thoughts forever.

Louise Dorr, who has led the organisation of today’s service in the JCCC said:

It’s the MOD Casualty Centre’s mission to care for the fallen whether they’re from current conflicts or historic campaigns. It’s been an absolute privilege to arrange this ceremony for Sgt Wilfred Lawson. Although his blood family aren’t able to be here today, his military family is honoured to be able to pay him this final tribute.

A new headstone bearing Sgt Lawson’s name has been provided by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC), who will now care for his final resting place in perpetuity.

The Ebbw Vale Zone was recently expanded to include three additional sites – Tafarnaubach Industrial Estate, Waun Y pound Industrial Estate and Victoria/Festival Park.

Economy Secretary Ken Skates said: 

“The Enterprise Zone Rates Scheme has helped make a real difference to businesses and I am pleased to announce additional funding so eligible businesses within the newly expanded areas of Ebbw Vale Enterprise Zone can apply and potentially benefit.”

The scheme focuses on small and medium sized enterprises that are demonstrating business growth, new starts or businesses that are increasing the size of their full time workforce. Consideration is also given to other business activity related to sectors, increased productivity and innovation/R&D.

The Enterprise Zone Business Rates Scheme is available to businesses within all eight Welsh Enterprise Zones and could deliver significant reductions to their annual business rates payments for 2016-17.

Applications for the 2016/17 financial year can be made until Friday, 31 March 2017.

For more information about the Scheme, businesses can ring the Business Wales helpline on freephone 03000 6 03000 or contact the EZBRS team at EZBRS@wales.gsi.gov.uk for an application form.

16 Mar 2017

Below is a statement by Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson on Nicola Sturgeon’s plan for a repeat independence referendum.

“Thank-you.

On Monday this week, the First Minister chose the wrong course for Scotland.

I profoundly regret the course of action she took.

And on behalf of the many, many Scots who do not want to go back to a second referendum – people who voted both No and Yes to independence – I tell her, it is not too late to change course.

The fact is that there are so many other urgent issues that require our attention
…from managing the Scottish Parliament’s important new powers over tax and welfare, to the future of our NHS.

The First Minister herself has said that that improving the quality of Scottish schooling would be her number one priority.

In our view, an all-consuming referendum campaign over the next 18 months would show this promise to be worthless.

So I ask the First Minister to act – and act now – to show she is prepared to deliver on those pledges she made.

Unfortunately, all the signs are that the Scottish Government will not take that step.

In addition to Monday’s statement, a website for its referendum campaign was set up at the start of this month, and fundraising has already commenced.

That is why the Prime Minister, the Secretary of State and myself have decided today to make clear to the Scottish people what response we will adopt.

As David has already said, we reject conclusively the timetable for a referendum set out by the Scottish Government.

For a key reason – because it is unfair to Scottish voters.

We have just come through a referendum campaign when a key complaint among many people was that they did not have the necessary information to help them make an informed decision.

If we were to keep to the First Minister’s timetable, this is exactly what would happen in Scotland, too.

On the most important political decision a country can make, we would be voting blind.

I believe that it is only right that people have the opportunity to examine the UK’s new relationship with the European Union once it is up and running.

People should only be asked to make a judgement about whether to leave or remain within a 300-year old Union of nations when they have seen for themselves how that Union is functioning, following Brexit.

They should also know what the alternative entails, and we have seen no clarity from the SNP on even the basic questions of their proposition.

But I believe there is another fundamental reason why now is not the right time to take Scotland back to the precipice.

And that is because there is no clear political or public consent for this to take place.

The country – and our Parliament – is divided not over just the question of independence, but over whether we should even hold a referendum or not.

Prior to 2014, this was not the case.

We all accepted – Unionist, Nationalist and those who sat on the fence – that it was right and proper for the question to be asked.

Today, however, that consent is simply not there.

In Scotland, we know to our cost that referenda are divisive.

At an absolute minimum, therefore, I believe there should be agreement across political parties and from the public at large, that it is right and fair for such a referendum to proceed.

And I say:

just three years after the last one

when the SNP promised to respect the previous vote

and when the Scottish public are weary and divided over the prospect of an immediate second vote

that the SNP must earn the right to ask the question again.

They cannot simply claim it. And through that claim, pretend it is true.

In short, I oppose a referendum on independence.

But if the SNP insists on pressing ahead, we will argue that a referendum cannot happen when the Scottish people have not been given the opportunity to see how our new relationship with the European Union is working.

And until there is clarity over the alternative.

And we will maintain that it should not take place when there is no clear public or political consent for it to happen.

Our country does not want to go back to the divisions and uncertainty of the last few years.

Another referendum campaign will not solve the challenges this country will face.

It is my deep regret that the SNP has chosen the path of trying to divide Scotland yet further. It would be irresponsible not to do all I can, to ensure that does not happen.”

Andrew
Gwynne MP, Labour’s Campaigns and Elections Chair, commenting on the
unravelling of the Tory Budget, said:

“The
Tories are in a mess, riven by infighting and failure and disarray.

“They
have embarrassed themselves over the Budget, they still have no answers on
Brexit and they’re fighting between themselves rather than fixing the problems.

“Theresa
May says she has a plan and is sticking to it, but almost every day we see
another promise broken or another change of heart. Flagship policies are being
delayed or abandoned altogether while working people across this country bear
the brunt of the Tories’ incompetence.

“It is
now clearer than ever that Theresa May cannot give Britain the change we need.
Working people deserve
better than Tory failure – only a Labour Government will stand up for them and
their families.”

Ends

Rebecca Long-Bailey
MP, Labour’s Shadow Business Secretary,
commenting on reports that Toyota is to invest in a UK plant at Burnaston,
said:

“The
decision by Toyota to invest £240 million to upgrade its Burnaston plant is
very welcome news. It is testament to the world-class workforce there whose
excellence, hard work, and efficiency makes the UK car industry so strong.

“However,
we should not be complacent. As the chief executive of Toyota Motor Europe
warned; continued, predictable and uncomplicated tariff and impediment-free
access will be important for future success. This is why the Government needs
to secure tariff and impediment free access to the Single Market and
Customs Union and re-enforce this with a coherent industrial strategy, which
invests in the supply chain, R&D, infrastructure and skills. Only by
doing this will the Government protect jobs in the UK car industry and ensure
the continued success of this sector.”