§ Mr. Pethick-Lawrenceasked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that men in the Territorial Service gave of their leisure time for many years and made many sacrifices before being called up to serve with the Regular Forces; and whether, in these circumstances, he will consider granting a special medal for Territorial service.
§ The Prime MinisterWe have now a generous range of awards for services during hostilities, and it is not proposed to add to the list by recommending the creation of this further distinction suggested. I should like to take this opportunity of paying a special tribute to those in the Territorial Army who, before September, 1939, fitted themselves in their leisure hours for military service. Officers of the Territorial Army, and other ranks serving on a Territorial attestation, are eligible, after 20 or 12 years' service respectively, for the award of the Territorial Decoration or the Efficiency Medal. War service counts double, and about 300,000 will have become eligible for the latter medal by the end of this year.
§ Sir I. Fraserasked the Secretary of State for War if the 1939–45 Star will be awarded to bomb disposal units whose work has been exceedingly hazardous and comparable to operational duty.
§ Sir J. GriggI would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply given by the Prime Minister to-day to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Wycombe (Sir A. Knox).