Based on the information available to the United Kingdom Polar Medal Assessment Committee, of the eight people who currently sit on the committee, two are currently employed by the British Antarctic Survey, and all have, at some time, previously worked for the British Antarctic Survey as employees or associates.

The Polar Medal Assessment Committee does not retain records of nominations received that are not successful. British Antarctic Survey has confirmed that over the past 10 years it has submitted 50 nominations and of those 48 were successful. It should be noted that any nomination submitted from the British Antarctic Survey goes through a robust internal process to ensure that it meets the qualification criteria before submission.

Polar exploration is excluded from the award of the Polar Medal only in instances where it does not contribute to the research of polar sciences or in technical support of the research of polar sciences. In the era of the satellite polar exploration has become more widespread with individuals undertaking travels in the Polar regions often without clear research objectives.

This practice reflects the criteria set out in the fifth clause of the Royal Warrant Eligibility which requires an honoree to have personally conspicuous contributions to the knowledge of polar regions, or to have rendered prolonged service of outstanding quality in support of

acquisition of such knowledge, and who have, in either case undergone the hazards and rigours imposed by the polar environment.

As at 31 December 2012, there are 548 staff employed by the British Antarctic Survey of which 49 are recipients of the Polar Medal.

I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 21 November 2012, Official Report, columns 483-84W.

I am grateful for his work along with the chairman (the hon. Member for Ogmore (Huw Irranca-Davies))

and other members of the APPG on the Recognition of Munitions Workers group. I would be pleased to meet to discuss the group's progress and have asked my office to contact the hon. Member to make arrangements.

The UK Polar Medal Assessment Committee (UKPMAC) is an independent committee that makes recommendations for the award of the polar medal to Her Majesty the Queen by the Secretary of State for Defence. The Chairman of the UKPMAC is Rear Admiral Tom Karsten, UK National Hydrographer and Deputy Chief Executive (Hydrography), United Kingdom Hydrographic Office. The Secretary is Captain Stuart Lawrence MBE RD RNR Polar Medal and Clasp. In addition, the UKPMAC consists of eight eminent persons of the polar profession, who are in their own right holders of the polar medal.

With the exception of the Chairman and Secretary the committee's membership is not in the public domain to protect the integrity of the selection process.

The recipients of the Polar medal are kept in the Polar Medal Roll, which is updated annually. Copies are held by:

The Deputy Ceremonial Officer, Ceremonial Branch, Cabinet Office;

The Polar Regions Unit, Overseas Territories Department, Foreign and Commonwealth Office;

The National Hydrographer;

The Keeper of Public Records; and

The Assistant Secretary Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood.

The Polar medal recipients are also announced each year in the London Gazette, available online at:

http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/

Recipients over the last 10 years have been collated and are shown in the following list. Citations are not in the public domain and are destroyed upon investiture.

2012: Polar medal

Antarctic to 2012

Mr Steven Richard Colwell, Meteorologist—British Antarctic Survey

Antarctic to 2011

Mr John Cameron Withers, Dive Officer, Base Commander—British Antarctic Survey

Antarctic to 2012

Mr Simon Martin Garrod, Polar Field Leader—British Antarctic Survey/Antarctic, Logistics and Expeditions

Arctic to 2012

Professor Terrence Vincent Callaghan, Professor in Arctic Ecology, University of Sheffield. Director, Swedish Royal Academy of Science—Abisko Station

Antarctic to 2012

Mr Tudor Morgan, Field Operations Manager—British Antarctic Survey, Operations Manager—United Kingdom Antarctic Heritage Trust

Antarctic 1957-60

Mr Edward Christopher John Clapp MBE, Radio Operator, Base Commander

2011

Antarctic to 2011

Mr Paul William Cousens, Deputy Project Manager, British Antarctic Survey

Mr Benjamin Richard Norrish, Vehicle Engineer, British Antarctic Survey

Dr Michael Lance Curtis, Field Geologist, British Antarctic Survey

Professor Michael James Bentley, Professor in Quaternary Environmental Change, Durham University

Mr Christian Kevin David Jacobs, Field Facilities Manager, Antarctic Logistics and Expeditions

Arctic and Antarctic to 2011

Mr David Thomson Meldrum, Polar Sciences Support Technician, Scottish Association for Marine Science

Second Clasp to Polar medal

Arctic and Antarctic to 2011

Professor Michael John Hambrey, Professor of Glaciology, Aberystwyth University

2010

Antarctic to 2010

Mr Duncan Evan Anderson, Chief Engineer, Royal Research Ship (RRS) James Clark Ross

Mr David John Maxfield, Electronics Engineer, British Antarctic Survey

Mr Andrew David McConnachie, Plant Technician, British Antarctic Survey

Dr Teal Richard Riley PhD, Geologist, British Antarctic Survey

Mr Peter Ward, Marine Research Scientist, British Antarctic Survey

Antarctic and Arctic to 2010

Captain Graham Phillip Chapman MN, Master, Royal Research Ship (RRS) James Clark Ross

Professor Martyn Tranter PhD, Professor of Physical Geography, Bristol University

Arctic and Antarctic to 2010

Dr Jonathan Ralph Ineson PhD, Geologist, Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland

Second Clasp to Polar medal

Antarctic and Arctic to 2009

Mr Douglas George Allan, Cameraman, BBC Natural History Unit

2009

Antarctic to 1999

Mr John Richard Westland Hanson, Personnel Officer, British Antarctic Survey

Antarctic to 2009

Dr Robert David Larter PhD, Marine Geologist, British Antarctic Survey

Captain Alan Peter Meredith, Chief Pilot, British Antarctic Survey

2008

Antarctic to 2007

Mr Derek Michael Forward, Chief Engineer, Royal Research Ship (RRS) Ernest Shackleton

Antarctic to 2008

Ms Penelope Granger BDS, Dental Officer, British Antarctic Survey

Professor Lloyd Samuel Peck, PhD, Biologist, British Antarctic Survey

Antarctic and Arctic to 2008

Mr Richard Atkinson, Field Assistant, Dog Driver and Polar Conservationist

Dr Adrian John Fox, PhD, Head of Mapping and Geographic Information Centre, British Antarctic Survey

Second Clasp to Polar medal

Antarctic and Arctic to 2008

Professor Andrew Charles Clarke, PhD, Head of Science Division and Research Scientist, British Antarctic Survey

2007

Antarctic to 1999

Dr Simon Brockington BSc, PhD, Marine Assistant and Biologist

Antarctic to 2006

Dr Peter Convey BA, PhD, Terrestrial Biologist

Mr Alan Michael Carroll, Base Leader, Ionosphericist, Polar Historian and Conservationist

Antarctic to 2007

Miss Victoria Jane Auld, Base Commander and Meteorologist

Mr Russell Scott Ladkin, Instrument Engineer

Dr Philip Timothy Leat BSc, PhD, Research Geologist

Captain David Francis Leatherdale, Line Pilot and Survey Pilot

Mr Peter Charles Denis Lens, Communications Manager and IT Support Specialist

Antarctic and Arctic to 2007

Mr Robert Crawford Paterson, Chief Officer, Royal Research Ship (RRS) James Clark Ross

2006

Antarctic to 2005

Dr Michael George Richardson, PhD, Zoologist, Base Leader and Head of Polar Regions, Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Antarctic to 2006

Mr Patrick George Fielder, Plant Technician and Facilities Manager

Mr Stephen Victor Hinde, Field Assistant and Winter Base Commander

Mr Malcolm Inch, Marine Engineering Officer, Royal Research Ship (RRS) Ernest Shackleton

Captain Leslie Kitson, Aircraft Pilot and Training Captain BAS Flight

Dr Thomas Anthony Lachlan-Cope, PhD, Polar Meteorologist

Dr Jonathan Lowton Watkins, PhD, Marine Biologist and Ecologist

Antarctic and Arctic to 1988

Dr Geoffrey Francis Hattersley-Smith, PhD, Geologist, Glaciologist, Base Leader and Polar Toponomist

Arctic and Antarctic to 2006

Professor Tavi Murray, PhD, Glaciologist

2005

Antarctic to 2004

Mr Jonathan David Shanklin, Meteorologist

Antarctic to 2005

Mr Andrew Thomas Barker, Communications Manager and Winter Base Commander

Mr Hugh Francis Joseph Corr, Ice Radar Scientist

Captain Antonio Gatti, Chief Officer and Acting Master Royal Research Ship (RRS) Ernest Shackleton

2004

Antarctic to 2004

Mr Michael Edward Patrick Gloistein, Radio Officer and Electro-Technical Officer (Communications)

Mr Matthew Robert Jobson, Carpenter and Builder

Mr Steven Marshall, Plumber, Field Assistant and Base Commander

Captain Nigel Douglas Pearson, Aircraft Pilot

Mr Mark Stewart, Information Technology Support and Communications Manager

Mr Stephen George White, Head of Vehicles and Engineering Section

Second Clasp to Polar medal

Antarctic to 2001

Professor John Patrick Croxall, CBE, Head of Birds and Seals Section, Biological Sciences Division

Antarctic to 2004

Mr Douglas Gordon Bone, Marine Biologist

2003

Antarctic 1944-45

James Edward Butler Futtit Farrington, Senior Radio Officer (since deceased)

Antarctic to 2003

Mr Rodney John Arnold, Field Operations Manager

Dr Adrian Jenkins, Glaciologist

Dr Keith William Nicholls, Oceanographer

Dr David Glyn Vaughan, Glaciologist

Antarctic and Arctic to 2003

Mr Keith Makinson, Drilling Engineer

Professor Elizabeth Mary Morris OBE, Glaciologist

Second Clasp to Polar medal

Antarctic and Arctic to 1989

Mr Allan Gill, Polar Scientist and Explorer

Data for how many service medals have been awarded to armed forces personnel from specific geographical locations such as Kilmarnock and Loudon are not held. Consequently, it is not possible to compare the figure for medals issued to those personnel from Kilmarnock and Loudon to that of the Scottish and national averages.

Since 7 February 2012, a total of 186,850 medals have been issued to serving personnel and veterans.

The figure refers to campaign and official commemorative medals, including the Diamond Jubilee Medal, and does not include honours or awards.

Nominations are considered in accordance with the criteria clearly outlined in the Royal Warrant of 1998 which was published in the London Gazette No. 55252 dated 14 September 1998, which is available at the following link:

http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/55252/notices/4SI/from=1998-09-13;to-1998-09-15;all=polar

The document will be placed in the Library of the House.

Polar medals were awarded to these categories as follows:

I refer my hon. Friend to the answers I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Colne Valley (Jason McCartney) and my hon. Friend the Member for Romsey and Southampton North (Caroline Nokes) on 26 November 2012, Official Report, column 95W.

The current British rules on the acceptance of foreign awards state that permission will not be given for UK citizens to accept a foreign award if they have received, or are expected to receive, a UK award for the same services (double medalling).

The double medalling rule was a factor in the original decision not to give permission for the Ushakov medal to be accepted because service on the Arctic Convoys was included in the eligibility criteria for the Atlantic Star. With the Prime Minister’s announcement of a specific British medal for veterans of the Arctic Convoys, the double medalling consideration becomes even more relevant. Under current rules, permission cannot be given for veterans to accept the Ushakov medal for the same service.

However, as you may be aware, the Government has asked Sir John Holmes to review the rules on the acceptance of foreign awards including the double medalling rule. As Sir John is already carrying out this work, it is right that we should await the outcome of his work.

[holding answer 20 December 2012]: The Prime Minister announced on 19 December 2012, Official Report, column 841, that the Government has accepted the recommendation of Sir John Holmes' review that a medal should be awarded to veterans who saw active service on the Arctic Convoys.

Sir John Holmes' interim review of the rules and principles governing the award of military medals was published on 17 July 2012. The next stage of Sir John's work has been completed and is being reviewed. An announcement on the outcome will be made in the near future.

Sir John Holmes was invited to undertake further work to implement the recommendations set out in his Military Medals Review published on 17 July 2012. The first phase of the further work has now been completed, covering a number of campaign medals, and this has been submitted for consideration. Further reviews will continue, one of which will be a fresh look at the policy on the acceptance of medals from other countries.

I am, however, seeking explanations as to whether this rule is necessary and desirable in all circumstances.

The Committee on the Grant of Honours, Decorations and Medals is responsible for considering recommendations relating to medals policy. Discussions are on going with the Department for Transport on the content of a possible proposal for the Committee to consider regarding the future status of the Merchant Navy Medal.