§ 42. Mr. Hardyasked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the magnificent services rendered during the war by the London ambulance services and if he is prepared to recognise this service by granting them gratuities or medals similar to the Defence Medal awarded to other services.
§ Mr. BevanI am aware of the most valuable work done by the London Ambulance Service, but it was not a Civil Defence Service and I regret that I cannot accept my hon. Friend's suggestion. It would be impossible to do so without admitting similar claims by many other classes of workers.
§ Sir J. LucasAs the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Woodford (Mr. Churchill) has said that mortuary attendants will get this Defence Medal, surely the ambulance drivers ought to have it?
§ Mr. BevanI think it would be extremely undesirable to re-open this classification, because there may be very many other applications that would be exceedingly embarrassing to everybody concerned.