§ Mr. BlizzardTo ask the Prime Minister (1) if the Government issues policy guidelines to the Committee on the Grant of Honours. Decorations and Medals; and to whom it is accountable; [59829]
(2) when he expects Sir Richard Wilson's review of the case for the award of a medal for veterans of the Suez campaign 1951–54 to report; [59828]
(3) what the terms of reference are of Sir Richard Wilson's review of the case for the award of a medal for veterans of the Suez campaign 1951–54. [59827]
§ The Prime MinisterThe terms of reference of the Committee are to consider general questions relative to the Grant of Honours, Decorations and Medals; to review the scales of award, both civil and military, from time to time, to consider questions of new awards, and changes in the conditions governing existing awards.
The Committee is the permanent standing committee to which the sovereign looks for advice about the honours system. It is chaired by the Secretary of the Cabinet, and its members are certain permanent secretaries and the private secretaries to the sovereign and the Prime Minister.
The Committee of Honours and Medals is aware of the past history of the case and of the representations currently being made for a medal. It is considering these representations very carefully.