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Written question asked by Paula Barker (Labour) on Tuesday, 10 February 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 25 February 2026 (named day). It was answered by Louise Sandher-Jones (Labour) on Tuesday, 10 March 2026 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Military Decorations

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent assessment his Department has made of the merits of issuing a National Defence Medal to military personnel to recognise their service to their country.

Answer

This Government continues to hold those who serve, and who have served, in our Armed Forces, in the highest esteem.

The question of whether a National Defence Medal should be introduced has previously been considered at length. The Committee on the Grant of Honours, Decorations and Medals (HD Committee) made its recommendation not to proceed with such a medal following the Independent Military Medals Review in 2012, which is publicly available at Military medals review: report by Sir John Holmes - GOV.UK. Any further review of this issue would be for the independent Advisory Military Sub-Committee to consider, and to make appropriate recommendations to its parent HD Committee, not the Ministry of Defence.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
112429
Session
2024-26
Subjects
Military decorations
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk