Air-Commodore Harveyasked the Prime Minister how far the Committee on the Grant of Honours, Dcoration and Medals, before producing its report on the recognition of service in Malaya during the recent period of emergency, took into account the possibility of awarding some form of recognition to planters and others who have shared with the Armed Forces and police the essential and arduous task of maintaing order and protecting lives and property against bandit attack.
70Wgress has been made with their repayment over the last four years.
§ Mr. GaitskellThe following table shows loans to His Majesty's Government outstanding at 31st March, 1946, and 31st March, 1950.
§ The Prime MinisterCareful consideration was given to the possibility of recommending the award of the General Service Medal in the Auxiliary Police Force of the Federation of Malaya, of which many planters, miners and other civilians are members, but it was decided that they must be excluded as awards of this nature are not granted for part-time service. Consideration of any recognition for civil categories other than those named in the White Paper is one of some difficulty, owing principally to the numbers involved.
A number of awards of the Colonial Police Medal for gallantry or meritorious service has already been made in the Auxiliary Police Force.