Written question asked by Madeleine Moon (Labour) on Thursday, 22 March 2012, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 26 March 2012. It was answered by Nick Harvey (Liberal Democrat) on Thursday, 19 April 2012 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Falkland Islands

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will consider giving the deployment of armed forces to the Falkland Islands an operational name; and if he will award a service medal to all personnel who have completed tours of duty.

Answer: The Ministry of Defence applies strict criteria for the award of campaign medals, requiring that a particular operation or commitment carries with it a level of rigour and physical threat over and above that which might normally be expected in the course of service with the armed forces.The role of those forces deployed to the Falkland Islands remains an entirely defensive one, to deliver in the South Atlantic the Government's standing commitments and responsibilities for the defence and security of the United Kingdom's Overseas Territories. There is no evidence of any current credible military threat to the security of the Falkland Islands, and we have no plans to give the deployment an operational name or to award a campaign medal to personnel who have served in the Falkland Islands since the 1982 conflict when the South Atlantic Medal was awarded.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 102100; 543 c527W
Session: 2010-12
Related items: Falkland Islands
Tuesday, 1 May 2012
Written questions
House of Commons
Subjects: Armed forces Deployment Falkland Islands Military decorations
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk