HC Deb 16 December 2003 vol 415 cc796-7W
Hugh Robertson

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made in the award of the Russian Arctic Convoy medal to UK nationals. [144010]

Mr. Rammell

[holding answer on 15 December 2003]: Government rules governing the acceptance of foreign awards by British Nationals preclude the acceptance of medals for services more than five years before consideration. In addition, the Defence of the Soviet Arctic Region Medal (DSARM) is a campaign medal and it was agreed at the end of the Second World War, by the then allied countries, not to exchange campaign medals. (The Atlantic Star is the British medal awarded for service in Atlantic Convoys.)

However, officials have been examining the possibility of an exception to the present rules to permit veterans to accept the DSARM should the Russian Government formally seek the Government's authority to award the medal to British Citizens. A decision on whether an exception can be made is expected shortly.