§ 22. Mr. McKibbinasked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that holders of the Military Medal won in the 1939–45 War are granted a gratuity of £20 on discharge, or an extra 6d. a day on their pension, but that no monetary benefit is attached to the Military Medal won by men in the 1914–18 War; and whether he will take steps to remedy the anomaly.
§ Mr. HeadIt was decided, in 1945, that the monetary awards then introduced for holders of the Military Medal should apply only to medals earned since September, 1939. This decision was reached after the most careful consideration, and I regret that I can hold out no hope of its being changed.
§ Mr. McKibbinDoes my right hon. Friend not consider that the disparity of treatment between men who fought in different wars is unfair to pensioners of the 1914–18 War, of whom only a comparatively small number now survive? Will he not reconsider this matter?
§ Mr. HeadThere is always the problem of how far changes should be retrospective. This change was made, as I say, in 1945. It has been done and I do not hold out any chance of altering it now.