§ Bob RussellTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the Honours and Decorations Committee re-opened the case to consider awarding a 1951–54 Suez Canal Campaign Medal; who requested that the matter be reviewed; and when he expects a decision to be made. [61264]
§ Dr. MoonieI refer the hon. Member to the answer which my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister gave on 17 June 2002,Official Report, column 43W to my hon. Friend the hon. Member for Waveney (Mr. Blizzard).
The Government considers it important to respect the principle that where there is a clear, demonstrable decision taken within five years of a campaign that a General Service Medal should not be awarded, that decision should not be reopened.
The evidence relating to consideration of a General Service Medal for the Suez Canal Zone is however less clear-cut. A number of representations.
In view of these exceptional circumstances, the Government is setting up a small sub-committee of HD Committee under the chairmanship of General Lord Guthrie of Craigiebank to report on the case for an exceptional award of a General Service Medal for the Suez Canal Zone without creating wider precedent or breaching longstanding principles which underpin the making of such awards.
1105W