§ 45. Brigadier Petoasked the Prime Minister whether he will consider recommending the award of the Imperial 329 Service Medal, in appropriate cases, for those who have completed a total period of meritorious and exemplary service of 25 years either in the Forces or in the Civil Service, or partly in one and partly in the other.
§ The Prime Minister (Mr. Attlee)No, Sir. The Statutes of the Imperial Service Order make it clear that the Order and the Medal were founded for the Civil Service. If service in the Armed Forces were to be put on the same basis as service in the Civil Service in reckoning the qualifying period, this would deprive awards of their special character as a Civil Service distinction. War-time service in the Forces, if pensionable under the Superannuation Acts, does, however, count towards the qualifying period of 25 years for the grant of the Medal.
§ Brigadier PetoWill the Prime Minister give any indication whether, by reason of the fact that in the past members of the Indian Civil Service were recipients of a percentage of these medals, there is likely to be any difference in the terms of award in future?
§ The Prime MinisterI am afraid I could not answer that question without notice.