Written question asked by Andrew Bennett (Labour) on Tuesday, 23 February 1999, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 2 March 1999. It was answered by Lord Spellar (Labour) on Tuesday, 2 March 1999 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Ministry of Defence

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many people have applied for General Service Medal Africa (1902-56) in the last five years; and if service in the Suez Canal Zone counts for entitlement to that medal. - Includes figures.

Answer: Mr. Bennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people have applied for General Service Medal Africa (1902-56) in the last five years; and if service in the Suez Canal Zone counts for entitlement to that medal. [73541] Mr. Spellar: In the last five years 268 requests for the Africa General Service Medal 1902-56 have been received by my Department. Of these applications, 95 were successful and medals with the appropriate clasp(s) issued. Service in the Suez Canal Zone during the qualifying period of the Africa General Service Medal 1902-56 does not count for entitlement to that medal. The medal is not issued alone, but with the appropriate clasp, which recognises specific periods of service in areas laid down in the appropriate Command Paper. No clasp to the Africa General Service Medal 1902-56 was instituted for service north of the Sahara.

Secondary information