Written question asked by James Gray (Conservative) on Tuesday, 13 September 2011, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 15 September 2011. It was answered by Lord Robathan (Conservative) on Monday, 3 October 2011 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Medals

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 19 July 2011, Official Report, column 867W, on medals, for what reason the chairman and secretary are the only members of the Polar Medal Assessment Committee.

Answer: Further to the answer I gave on 19 July 2011, Official Report, column 867W, the UK Polar Medal Assessment Committee (UKPMAC) is an independent committee that makes recommendations for the award of the polar medal to Her Majesty the Queen by the Secretary of State for Defence. In addition to the chairman and secretary, who are members of staff at the UK Hydrographic Office, the UKPMAC has an additional eight independent members. All UKPMAC members are experts in polar matters and nine of the 10 members are in their own right holders of the polar medal. The names of the independent members of the UKPMAC are not in the public domain to protect the integrity of the process.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 72101; 532 c1378W
Session: 2010-12
Related items: Medals
Tuesday, 19 July 2011
Written questions
House of Commons
Subjects: Medals
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk