§ Mr. Gerald HowarthTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans Her Majesty's Government have made for the armed forces to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of Her Majesty's reign; and if it is proposed to issue medals. [12299]
§ Dr. MoonieI refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 23 November 2000,Official Report, column 294W, to my hon. Friend the Member for High Peak (Mr. Levitt), which detailed the plans for the Queen's Golden Jubilee. The then Home Secretary my right hon. Friend the Member for Blackburn (Mr. Straw) announced on 15 February 2001 that there would be a Golden Jubilee Medal.
§ Mr. SwayneTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is to be the cost of issuing the Queen's Jubilee Medal to members of the armed forces with five years service; what the cost of issuing the medal to all members of the armed forces would have been; and if he will make a statement. [12161]
880W
§ Dr. MoonieThe estimated cost of awarding the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal to all those members of the armed forces, volunteer reserve forces and the royal fleet auxiliary who will have completed five years' qualifying service on 6 February 2002, is £3.8 million. The funding that would be required to include all those who are serving on that date would be an additional £1.8 million.
The potential cost of the medal was not a deciding factor in determining the qualifying criteria. The requirement for a minimum of five years' qualifying service gives due recognition to those who have committed themselves to and completed a significant period of service to the Crown.