§ Mrs. BrookeTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how long it has taken, on average, to process each application for the General Service Medal, Suez Canal Zone, 1951–54. [172367]
§ Mr. CaplinI refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 22 April 2004,Official Report, column 663W, to my hon. Friend the Member for The Wrekin (Peter Bradley).
The updated situation since then is:
Service Medal Office Applications received Royal Navy 5 November 2003 Royal Marines As they arrive Army 5 September 2003 RAF 11 November 2003
§ Mrs. BrookeTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many outstanding claims there are for the General Service Medal for serving in the Suez Canal Zone between 1951 and 1954. [172368]
§ Mr. CaplinAs at 7 May there were 29,153 applications requiring assessment. It is not possible to estimate the total number of claim applications that will be received.
§ Mrs. BrookeTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many General Service Medals have been issued for service in the Suez Canal Zone between 1951 and 1954. [172369]
§ Mr. CaplinAs at 7 May 7,696 medals and/or clasps had been dispatched to veterans or their families.