HC Deb 12 November 2001 vol 374 cc520-1W
Mr. Jim Cunningham

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will review the criteria for determining the award of a defence medal for service personnel. [13178]

Dr. Moonie

There are no plans to review the qualifying criteria for the defence medal which recognised non-operational service for armed forces personnel and certain specific categories of civilians during the Second World War.

Mr. Gummer

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will instruct the Adjutant General's Office to instigate a review of the rules covering the issue of the defence medal. [13543]

Dr. Moonie

I do not believe there is a requirement for a review of the regulations surrounding the defence medal. In 1946, the Committee on the Grants of Honours, Decorations and Medals discussed the awards, and their qualifying criteria, that should be instituted to reward service in the campaigns, operations and defence commitments during the Second World War. Members of the Committee included senior military and Government officers who had first hand experience and thorough knowledge of the events throughout the war. The regulations governing the qualification requirements for all Second World War medals were finalised in 1948, following approval from His Majesty King George VI, and were announced on 11 June 1948. These regulations have been strictly adhered to ever since.

Mr. Gummer

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will create an accessible Board of Appeal for the award of defence medals, in order that evidence that is acceptable to a Court of Law is not disregarded. [13544]

Dr. Moonie

I do not believe there is a requirement for a Board of Appeal. The authoritative source of an individual's medal entitlement is properly their service record. If an individual disputes the official record then the onus is on that individual to provide official contemporary documentary evidence as proof of entitlement.

Mr. Gummer

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he delegates to the Officer-in-Charge, Army Medal Office, full authority for the decision making process for medal applications. [13542]

Dr. Moonie

The proposed qualifying criteria for medals are submitted to the Committee on the Grant of Honours, Decorations and Medals (HD Committee) for consideration, after which their recommendation is passed to the Sovereign for approval. Following Royal assent the Officer-in-Charge of the Army Medal Office is responsible for ensuring that all applications for Army and Home Guard medals fulfil the relevant qualifying criteria by checking eligibility against official service records. The Navy, Royal Air Force and Royal Marines have their own medal offices with the appropriate delegated authority.