HC Deb 06 March 1987 vol 111 c731W
Mr. Cartwright

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will institute a special medal for service men who were taken prisoner during the second world war or during the Korean war.

Mr. Freeman

Ex-prisoners of war are already eligible for certain medals—for example, the 1939–45 star, the Korea medal and the United Nations medal Korea—and there are no plans to institute a special medal.

Mr. Cartwright

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received about the decision not to award the French-German star to service men taken prisoner within the perimeter defence at Dunkirk in 1940; and what reply he has given.

Mr. Freeman

Several letters on this subject have been received, including one from my hon. Friend the Member for Slough (Mr. Watts). A copy of my reply has been placed in the Library.