§ Lord Marlesfordasked Her Majesty's Government:
What is the total number of Golden Jubilee medals now issued; and what are the main categories of persons who have received them and the number awarded in each category. [HL6055]
§ The Minister of State, Department for Culture, Media and Sport (Baroness Blackstone):The Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal is being distributed to serving members of the Armed Forces, Royal Fleet Auxiliary and emergency services (police, fire, ambulance, Coastguard, approved lifeboat services and Mountain Rescue) in the United Kingdom who had completed five years or more reckonable service on 6 February 2002 and to holders of the George Cross and Victoria Cross.
The total number of medals to be issued is expected to be around 394,850: 141,968 medals have been issued to date to Armed Forces personnel out of the Ministry of Defence's anticipated total of 179,460 and the remainder should be issued by February 2003. Medals issued to each service to date are:
Royal Navy and Royal Marines: 25,127 out of a total of 33,760 Army: 74,263 out of a total of 100,700 RAF: 42,578 out of a total of 45,000 Two hundred and fifteen thousand three hundred and ninety medals are currently being produced for the emergency services and should all be issued by June 2003. The anticipated numbers to be issued to each of the emegency services are:
Police Forces: 142,730 Ambulance Services: 15,930 Fire Services: 48,630 HM Coastguard: 2,710 Approved lifeboat services: 3,000 Mountain Rescue services: 2,390 Forty-three out of 48 medals have been issued to VC and GC holders.