§ 44. Mr. G. P. Stevensasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty why service under pension should not be counted towards the qualifying period for the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal.
§ Mr. CallaghanAll naval ratings and other ranks Royal Marines have the opportunity before discharge to pension of being recommended for the award of the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal on completion of 15 years' service with continuous "Very Good" character and with character before the 15 years not inferior to "Good." Pensioners who were unable to secure the award before discharge to pension after 22 years' service thus fail to maintain the very high standard of character for which it is the recognition. It is not desirable that any steps be taken which might depreciate the award.
§ Mr. StevensDoes not the Parliamentary Secretary agree that in the case of pensioners who had uniformed service during the war, even though, before that, they had not completed the necessary number of years, that extra long service and good conduct should be counted as part of the qualifying period?
§ Mr. CallaghanThe hon. Gentleman is asking me for an opinion. I have discovered that there are mixed views about this.
§ Mr. MikardoHas my hon. Friend observed that of the 12 Questions from the Opposition which he and his hon. Friend have answered ten have been demands for increased Government ex- 2790 penditure which, in their week-end speeches, hon. Members opposite are always seeking to reduce?