§ Mr. Thornton-Kemsleyasked the Secretary of State for War upon what dates in the present calendar year have notifications of awards of the Territorial Efficiency Medal appeared in the "London Gazette"; what is the total number of awards announced since 1st January, 1948; how many claims for these awards are outstanding and at approximately what rate are they being dealt with.
§ Mr. ShinwellNo notifications have appeared nor have any awards been announced since the beginning of this year. Some 10,000 claims are outstanding. They are being dealt with at the rate of 50 or 60 a day.
§ Mr. Thornton-Kemsleyasked the Secretary of State for War if he will arrange to notify by post those who have qualified for the Territorial Efficiency Medal, instead of requiring them to search 88W through the "London Gazette," which is available only to those who have access to certain public libraries, to see if their application for this award has been granted.
§ Mr. ShinwellThose who have qualified for the Efficiency Medal are informed personally as soon as their claim has been established and again when it has been published in the "London Gazette," the date of the "Gazette" being specified.
§ Mr. Thornton-Kemsleyasked the Secretary of State for War how long after an application for an award of the Territorial Efficiency Medal has been made should an applicant wait before assuming that his qualifications for the award have been adjudged to be inadequate.
§ Mr. ShinwellAs the number of applications received is very large, and each case is dealt with in strict rotation, it may be as long as 18 months before an application is dealt with. All applicants will be informed of the result of their applications, whether or not they are approved.