§ 15. Mr. Thomas Coxasked the Minister of State for Defence what is the number of men at present on the Meritorious Service Medal annuity register, and the average waiting time before an annuity is granted.
§ The Under-Secretary of State for Defence for the Army (Mr. Geoffrey Johnson Smith)The Meritorious Service Medal annuity register at present contains 4,484 names. I regret that it is not possible to calculate an average waiting time for the grant of the annuity.
§ Mr. CoxI note that reply, but I am sure that the hon. Gentleman recognises that men who have been awarded this medal have loyally served this country for many years. If the award and the annuity going with it are to have any meaning, should not the amount of money allocated for the payment of the annuity be increased? I am given to understand that the average waiting time before the annuity is paid is about 16 years. This cannot be the way to treat such men. Will the hon. Gentleman look at it again?
§ Mr. Johnson SmithI agree that this system has a number of unsatisfactory features, to which the hon. Gentleman has drawn attention, not least the fact that some of the men receive an annuity and some do not, even though they may have exactly the same qualifications. I am glad to give the assurance that the matter is being reviewed on a tri-Service basis.