§ Bob SpinkTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the procedures to be followed by veterans in order to claim the Suez medal. [135465]
§ Mr. CaplinI refer the hon. Member to my written ministerial statement of 23 October 2003,Official Report columns 45–46WS, and Command Paper 5999.
§ Mr. HoyleTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Suez Canal Zone medal applications have been received from(a) Chorley, (b) Lancashire and (c) the North West; and how many have been granted. [135809]
§ Mr. CaplinThe Ministry of Defence is very keen to issue medals to eligible veterans as quickly as possible. There is already a sizeable backlog of applications which has accumulated in recent weeks. I would not, therefore, wish to divert staff at the medal offices to undertake an exercise of the sort that has been requested, at the expense of issuing the medal to Suez veterans.