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Honours System (Reform)

: I am happy to try to do so, but we are splitting hairs; it is a matter of semantics. The extraordinary sportswoman to whom the hon. Gentleman refers clearly achieved status as a result of her achievement. That does not mean that it is negligible; it is eminently worth while, and she is obviously eminently deserving of the honour that has been conferred on her. That is not in question. I have made it quite clear that that sort of eminent achievement, which is outstanding and extraordinary, should be honoured. Everybody would agree with that. We must have balance between achievement and service, but that is not always the case. What happens all too often in the upper echelons of the awards—I am not talking about the overall system—is that achievement is rewarded more than service for the reasons that I have given.