§ Sir Bernard Braineasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is now the waiting time for the issue by the Royal Mint of medals awarded to the Armed Services, the police, and ex-Servicemen, respectively; and whether, in order to overcome difficulties, he will arrange for other manufacturers to be invited to tender for the supply of such medals.
§ Mr. Denzil DaviesThe Royal Mint does not issue medals to the Armed Services, the police or ex-Servicemen. It acts only in the capacity of manufacturer of medals for the Home Office and the Ministry of Defence, to whom deliveries are normally made in accordance with agreed programmes. Thus it would be for these Departments to decide whether other manufacturers might be invited to 389W tender. A backlog of some months for medals for the Home Office, caused by technical problems, is being cleared as quickly as possible.