§ Mr. LuffTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many staff have been employed at the Army Medal Office to assist in the issuing of the Iraq medal since the beginning of the year; and how many are on(a) casual and (b) fixed-term contracts. [178995]
§ Mr. CaplinThe Army Medal Office established a section to deal specifically with the Iraq medal on 4 May 2004. The section comprises eight staff, including four on casual contracts and one on a fixed-term appointment.
§ Mr. LuffTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many applications for the Suez Canal Zone(a) medal and (b) clasp have been (i) received and (ii) processed by the Army Medal Office in Droitwich Spa. [179020]
§ Mr. CaplinAs at 11 June 2004, the Army Medal Office has received over 28,500 applications for the Suez Canal Zone medal or clasp. Information that would distinguish applications for the medal and the clasp is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Of the 6,650 applications that have been processed, 5,315 medals and 418 clasps have been issued.