§ Mr. DismoreTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to equalise the length of service required to qualify for a police long-service medal with periods which apply in respect of the fire and ambulance services. [104502]
§ Mr. Charles ClarkeThe respective qualifying periods for the long-service award—Police (22 years), Fire Service (20 years) and Ambulance Service (20 years) are directly related to conditions of employment. I am not aware of any suggestion by the Police Service that there should be any change to the qualifying period for their long-service medal. I have, therefore, no plans at present to make any such change.