§ Mr. BurdenTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give General Service medals to those who served during the Suez Crisis. [32994]
§ Mr. SpellarThe joint Anglo/French amphibious operation to occupy the Suez Canal Zone, designated Operation Musketeer, which took place during the Crisis of late 1956, was recognised by the institution of the General Service Medal with clasp Near East. Qualification was one day's service between 31 October and 22 December 1956 inclusive, as laid down in Command Paper 190 of June 1957.
Service performed during the earlier Suez Canal Zone Emergency between 1951 and 1954 was not recognised by a campaign medal. The Government have no plans to consider the retrospective institution of an award for that period of service.