Memorandum by D W Dawson (HON 65)
I understand that you would welcome comments
on your consultation paper. Although I respond as an individual
the following comments arise from discussions with friends and
neighbours.
The titles of Sir and Dame should be severely
restricted to those persons who have performed in fields outside
their routine work, unless their action or thought has brought
international credit to this country.
The social division is exacerbated by the awards,
apparently automatic, to top grade civil servants, members of
the armed forces, business tycoons, and retiring MPs, all of whom
may—in the past—not have received an appropriate salary
but who nowadays are well remunerated. The giving of awards should
not be used for political purposes. Lesser honours should be limited
to those doing voluntary work. We would like to believe that all
paid workers try their best without thought of an award. The choice
of recipient is often of a representative of a certain group of
workers but the selection of the one individual can be puzzling
when so many are equally deserving.
The total number of awards each six months could
well be reduced to 100.
March 2004
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