§ MR. REGINALD LUCAS (Portsmouth)To ask the Secretary to the Admiralty if he will explain why the medal and gratuity for service in Somali-land has not yet been issued to the men of the Royal Navy who took part in the operations, although they have for some time been distributed to those entitled to them in the Army.
(Answered by Mr. Pretyman.) The Admiralty decision as to the medal and gratuity for the operations in Somaliland was given on 28th January. Steps were at once taken to make the necessary com- 428 munications to the Treasury for the payment of the gratuity and to the Mint for the supply of the medals. The bulk of the latter having now been received, a notice as to the terms of the award will appear in the London Gazette of Tuesday 21st instant, and the distribution will proceed forthwith. The payment of the gratuities to those entitled has already commenced.