§ Bob SpinkTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will aim to complete distribution of the new General Service Medal with clasp Canal Zone by 11 November. [175261]
§ Mr. CaplinNo, despite the allocation of additional resources to the task of assessing these claims, it will not be possible to complete distribution by 11 November. Applications continue to arrive at between 200 and 300 a week. I have, however, set action in train in order that productivity can be maximised and the backlog reduced.