Written question asked by Madeleine Moon (Labour) on Tuesday, 24 April 2012, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 26 April 2012. It was answered by Lord Robathan (Conservative) on Tuesday, 1 May 2012 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Falkland Islands

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 19 April 2012, Official Report, column 527W, on the Falkland Islands, how his Department defines (a) campaign medal and (b) service medal; and if he will make a statement.

Answer: Discrete UK operations with little or no opportunity for troops to routinely return to the UK may be recognised by a specific campaign medal. Longer deployments which require successive troop rotation to be sustained would more usually be recognised by the Operational Service Medal and repeat service by the Accumulated Campaign Service Medal. The decision on whether to recommend an award and the appropriate type of award, however, is ultimately one for the military commanders based on their assessment of the nature of the military task and the enduring level of 'risk and rigour'.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 106030; 543 c1528W
Session: 2010-12
Related items: Falkland Islands
Thursday, 19 April 2012
Written questions
House of Commons
Subjects: Falkland Islands
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk