Damaged war memorials to be fixed with £5m raised from Libor fines

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/dec/19/first-world-war-memorials-repaired-fund-libor

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First world war memorials and graves will be repaired with £5m of government cash as part of national commemorations to mark next year's centenary of the conflict, David Cameron will announce on Thursday during a visit to a site in Flanders, Belgium, where tens of thousands of British and Commonwealth soldiers are buried.

Under the proposals, the repairs will be funded by fines on banks for manipulating the interest rate known as Libor, and spent over the next four years through grants to local communities. Money will also go towards funding new teaching materials, such as digital guides, to help explain the importance of sites and to honour the sacrifice of those buried there.

Speaking before his visit, Cameron said the centenary starting on 10 August 2014 will be a "time for the whole nation to reflect on the events that saw so many young people of that generation make the ultimate sacrifice".

"Nearly all of us in Britain have some family connection with that conflict, and it is the many millions of small, personal stories that resonate as loudly for us as the big, world-changing battles and campaigns," he said.

"As part of that, it is absolutely right that we help communities up and down the country to ensure that their local war memorials are a fitting tribute to the fallen and increase people's understanding of what happened. We simply should not tolerate damaged war graves in our country. Our memorials and cemeteries must be places of respect and education."

During his visit, the prime minister will be joined by the Belgian prime minister, Elio Di Rupo, and Irish taoiseach, Enda Kenny.

Around £50m has been set aside for the centenary of the first world war, with national commemorations on specific anniversaries such as the outbreak of war, Armistice Day and major battles.

The fund will also pay for an upgrade to the Imperial War Museum by 2014 and for more school trips to major battlefields, such as the Somme, Verdun and Fromelles.

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