HC Deb 01 June 1998 vol 313 cc103-4W
Mr. Mackinlay

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service personnel have been(a) awarded and (b) formally recommended but not yet gazetted for the Military Cross over the past 12 months, for service outside Northern Ireland; and what was the country or coastal location in which their acts related to the award or recommendation. [42896]

Dr. Reid

In the past twelve months two Servicemen have been recommended and awarded the Military Cross. One was for service in Sierra Leone, published in the London Gazette on 5 December 1997, and the other for service in the Former Republic of Yugoslavia published in the London Gazette on 8 May 1998. At present there are no other recommendations outstanding for the award of the Military Cross.

Mr. Mackinlay

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many(a) awards and (b) recommendations not yet gazetted for gallantry or bravery have been made in relation to service personnel serving in Northern Ireland over the past 12 months. [42894]

Dr. Reid

[holding answer 21 May 1998]Nominations for brave or gallant service by soldiers, sailors and airmen of the three Services are considered centrally to ensure continuity of standards and to protect the integrity of the awards. All recommendations received from HQ Northern Ireland reflecting service from 1 April 1997 to 30 September 1997 were approved and subsequently announced in the London Gazette on 8 May 1998. No recommendations for service from 1 October 1997 onwards have yet been submitted.