§ Major Digbyasked the Prime Minister if he will reconsider the regulations which limit the award of campaign stars to officers and other ranks of the R.N. who have served at sea for six months in an operational theatre, having regard to the fact that this condition will prevent several commanders-in-chief of successful campaigns, as well as their staffs, from receiving the appropriate campaign star.
§ The Prime MinisterAs I stated on 16th October in my reply to the hon. and gallant Member for Lewes, I have a scheme relating to the campaign stars under consideration, and I hope to receive 1877W shortly the views of the Dominion Governments. There may possibly, as a result, be some slight modification in the arrangements for the Fleet. It is appropriate, however, that awards of this nature, such as the 1939–45 Star and the Atlantic Star, should, in the Navy, be earned by service at sea, and it would not be practicable to make exceptions for commanders-in-chief and their staffs serving ashore in non-operational areas without creating great difficulties elsewhere in the Navy and also in the other Services. Officers and ratings of the Navy serving ashore in Army operational areas qualify for campaign stars in the same way as the Army.