§ Mr. ToddTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to her answer of 31 October 2001,Official Report, column 758W, what precedent exists for awarding the Jubilee Medal to non-service men and women, particularly to those working in the emergency services. [19092]
§ Tessa JowellIn 1997, the Silver Jubilee Medal was awarded to a wide range of recipients other than the armed forces, including the police, local services (including fire, health, social and education) and the civil service.
On the question of eligibility for the Queen's Golden Jubilee medal, I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave today to the hon. Member for Bognor Regis and Littlehampton (Mr. Gibb).
§ Patrick MercerTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans she has to award the Queen's Jubilee Medal to the(a) Fire and (b) Ambulance Service. [20968]
§ Tessa JowellAs I announced on Tuesday 4 December, the Government have decided that eligibility for the Golden Jubilee medal should be extended to include members of the emergency services: the police, fire and ambulance services, the Coastguard, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, and the Mountain Rescue service. As is the case for the armed forces and the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, the medal will be issued to serving members who have completed a minimum of five years' reckonable service on 6 February 2002.
A copy of the announcement has been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.