§ Mr. SUMMERBELLasked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he can state the number of men in the Royal Naval Reserve who have received the long-service medal, and the number who have received the sum of £50 on the application of their time; whether an application was recently received from Sunderland on behalf of those who had done over 20 years' service, and were of good conduct, for the long-service medal; and, if so, whether he could state the reason for refusing the application then made to the Registrar-General of Seamen at Sunderland?
§ Mr. McKENNANone of these medals have yet been awarded; the regulations as to the institution of the medal were issued in May last, and applications are now being examined and will be forwarded shortly. 1,930 men have received the gratuity. It was a necessary condition for award of the medal in the regulations first issued, that applicants should have been on the active list on 1st January, 1908; an application from a Royal Naval Reserve man at Sunderland who had left the Royal Naval Reserve prior to 1st January, 1908, was refused accordingly. This condition has now been removed, so that all men who have the necessary qualifying service will be eligible for the medal.