§ 7. Major PRESCOTTasked the Secretary of State for War whether any decision has been made as to whether clasps are to be awarded for military actions during the late War; if so, for what actions clasps are to be awarded, and what is the estimated number of military clasps required; whether in view of the great cost to the country already involved by the production of medals in the ordnance factories opportunity will be given to expert firms of medallists to tender for the supply of these clasps; and if action will be taken to see that as economically and efficiently designed clasp as possible, both as regards cost of production and method of distribution and attaching, be decided upon?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for WAR (Sir Laming Worthington-Evans)The whole question is still under consideration, and I am not in a position to make any announcement on the subject at present.
§ 8. Major PRESCOTTasked the Secretary of State for War the cost to the country of the production of the British silver War Medals and the Victory Medals as now being made in the ordnance factories as compared with the prices quoted by private firms of medallists; whether, in view of the long period of four years in which it is hoped to complete the War medals distribution, it would be to the national advantage to 88 approximately double the number of men at present employed on this work in order to complete the distribution within a period of two years, and incidentally provide useful employment for an additional number of unemployed ex-service men; and if he will consider the advisability of inviting tenders from London firms of expert medallists for the production of the bronze Victory Medals in view of the fact that such a step would not reduce employment in the ordnance factories for the next two years?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSThe estimated cost of production, exclusive of the cost of the metal, is approximately £316,000 for the British silver War medals, and approximately £166,000 for the Victory Medals. The comparative cost of production by private firms is not known. It is estimated that, at the present rate of production, the manufacture of the medals will be completed by the factory in about one and a half years. The period of four years mentioned was an approximate estimate only and made some months ago, and included not only the time taken for production but also for engraving and distributing the medals. It is not practicable to increase the number engaged on the work of distribution, which is carried out in conjunction with the military record offices; nor is it necessary at this stage to expand the rate of production at Woolwich.