§ Peter BradleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how long on average it has taken from a claim to an award of the Canal Zone Medal. [165484]
§ Mr. CaplinIt is not possible to calculate the average time taken from a claim to an award of a Canal Zone Medal. However, as at 16 April the four single Service medal offices had received 37,512 applications. Many arrived following the Prime Minister's announcement on 11 June 2003 that a medal would be instituted and a large backlog had built up by 23 October 2003 when I announced that medals would now be available. 6,700 medals and/or clasps have been despatched to veterans or their families. The medal offices are currently assessing applications received on the following dates.
Service Medal Office Applications received Royal Navy 8 July 2003 Royal Marines 6 February 2004 Army 31 August 2003 RAF 4 November 2003