HC Deb 25 November 1971 vol 826 cc443-4W
Mr. Sproat

asked the Prime Minister whether he will arrange that a holder of a military award in the Order of the British Empire is not required to return his insignia if he is subsequently given a civil award in a higher class of that order.

The Prime Minister

Yes. The Queen has approved a proposal that the Statutes of the Order of the British Empire should be amended so that, when a person is promoted in the Order from the Military Division to the Civilian Division or vice versa, the insignia of the lower class may be retained and worn together with those of the higher class on the appropriate occasions. A notice will be published, inviting existing holders who have previously surrendered their insignia in these circumstances to write to the Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood, if they wish to do so, asking for their return.