Campaign Stars and Medals

HC Deb 03 November 1948 vol 457 c833

9. Mr. Gerald Williams

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty when campaign stars and medals are to be issued to ex-Naval personnel.

Mr. Dugdale

As my right hon. Friend, the Prime Minister said in his announcement of 31st May last, the Admiralty propose to invite applications for campaign stars, medals and prize money on a single form. The distribution of medals will proceed concurrently with the distribution of Prize Money, and I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I made earlier this afternoon in this connection.

Mr. Williams

Is it not rather late, as it has been announced in the Press that all ex-Service personnel should apply for their medals at once? It has already been done by the Army and the Air Force, and the Navy seems to be lagging very much behind.

Mr. Dugdale

As the Prime Minister said in his reply, it was felt to be much more convenient that this should all be done on one form. I know hon. Members opposite are always complaining of the amount of form-filling and the number of forms sent out; this is something which will mitigate that.