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24 Nov 2005 : Column 2241W—continued
EU Finance
Mr. Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the objectives are of (a) the EU Growth Adjustment Fund and (b) the EU Global Adjustment Fund; from which part of the EU budget each fund is financed; how much of the financing of each fund will be made by the UK; what proportion of each fund will be spent in the UK; and if he will make a statement. [31570]
Mr. Douglas Alexander: The objectives of the Growth Adjustment Fund, which the Commission proposed in February last year, are set out in the Government's explanatory memorandum on COM(2004)101, available in the Library of the House. It is no longer under active discussion.
The objectives of the Globalisation Adjustment Fund, which the Commission proposed in October this year, are set out in the Commission's MEMO/05/386, which has also been made available in the Library of the House. The details of how any such fund would operate or be financed are being discussed with all EU partners, and my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary will update Parliament on progress in due course.
Mr. Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the proposal for a growth adjustment fund proposed in COM(2004) 101; on what occasions the proposal came before (a) the Committee of Permanent Representatives, (b) the Council of the European Union and (c) the European Council; whether the Government (i) supported and (ii) opposed the proposal at each occasion it came before these institutions; and if he will make a statement. [31572]
Mr. Douglas Alexander:
The Government's position on the Commission's proposals of February last year, including the Growth Adjustment Fund, remains that set out in its explanatory memorandum on COM(2004)101 and COM(2004)487, available in the
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Library of the House, The Government have taken this position in all fora in which the EU budget for 2007–2013 has been discussed. My right hon. Friend, the Foreign Secretary, will update Parliament in due course on progress in the negotiations.
Foreign Decorations
Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the criteria are for allowing (a) current and (b) former service personnel to (i) accept and (ii) wear medals offered by foreign governments in respect of past campaigns. [30618]
Mr. Straw [holding answer 21 November 2005]: The criteria for considering whether foreign awards and decorations may be accepted and worn are contained in the Rules Governing the Accepting and Wearing of Foreign Orders, Decorations and Medals by Citizens of the United Kingdom and Her Overseas Territories. I set out as follows the Rules and will place copies in the Library of the House. In addition, the Committee on the Grant of Honours, Decorations and Medals is currently considering a paper from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office relating to a review of the rules.
Rules governing the acceptance and wearing of Foreign Orders, Decorations and Medals by citizens of the United Kingdom and her overseas territories
These rules set out the circumstances under which a citizen of the United Kingdom or her overseas territories (UK citizen") may be granted The Sovereign's permission to accept and wear an Order, Decoration or Medal (foreign award") conferred by a Head of State or Government of a foreign country. Head of Government of a Commonwealth country of which The Sovereign is not Head of State and certain international organisations (collectively referred to as foreign state").
1. No UK citizen 1 may accept and wear a foreign award without the Sovereign's permission. Such permission must be sought as soon as there is an indication that an award may be offered.
2. The granting of permission for a UK citizen to accept an award offered by a foreign state will only be considered if the award recognises specified services rendered to the interests of that foreign state.
3. 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.
4. Acceptance of a foreign award does not mean that the UK will make a reciprocal offer directly or indirectly associated with the UK recipient
restricted—allowing the award to be worn only on particular occasions associated with the foreign state that conferred it.
6. The grant of permission, whether unrestricted or restricted, will be conveyed by letter to the UK citizen concerned from the Sovereign's Private Secretary.
7. A foreign state wishing to confer an award on a UK citizen is expected to ascertain—through its Diplomatic Representative at The Court of St. James's—whether
- permission to accept an award would be likely to be given. Such requests for clearance will only be entertained in respect of awards given by Heads of State or Governments recognised as such by the Sovereign.
8. Requests made by certain international organisations (e.g. the United Nations and NATO) in respect of service in operations under their auspices should be made to the Defence Services Secretary in the Ministry of Defence.
9. Requests made in respect of services rendered more than five years previously, or in connection with events in the distant past (e.g. commemorative awards), will not be entertained.
10. Requests for clearance meeting the requirement of these regulations will be submitted to The Sovereign for consideration by the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs—who will be under no obligation to make such a submission if the application has not been made as indicated in paragraphs 7 and 8 above.
11. Requests for clearance in the case of foreign awards conferred by private societies or institutions will not be granted.
12. Each request will be treated on a case by case basis. The fact that a similar application has been approved in the past should not be taken as implying that permission will be granted.
13. The grant of unrestricted permission will be considered in the case of foreign awards conferred for services:
by any member of the UK Armed Forces or other UK official on exchange, attachment or loan to a foreign state who is involved in a military operation or an emergency 3 on behalf of that country, state or organisation;
by any member of the UK Armed Forces serving in a UK Unit within a bi-lateral force under the command of the other country who renders especial service to the country's forces in a military operation or emergency; or
in military operations under the auspices of an international organisation (e.g. the United Nations).
on the occasion of and in connection with a State or official visit by a Head of State or Government of a foreign or Commonwealth country;
to members of Special Missions when The Sovereign is represented at a coronation, wedding or funeral or other similar occasion: or on any Diplomatic Representative when specially accredited to represent The Sovereign on such occasions.
15. Other than in circumstances described in paragraphs 13 and 14 above, permission, unrestricted or restricted, will not be granted to 5 :
in particular, to Heads or other members of HM Diplomatic or Consular establishments abroad when leaving their posts—whether on transfer or on final retirement; and
16. No permission is needed for the acceptance of any foreign award if it is designed not to be worn.
1 This includes British subjects and British-protected persons (BPPs). BPPs may accept awards conferred by their Rulers.
2 Including medals issued by life saving societies and institutions (but these must be worn on the right breast).
3 It will be for the UK to decide if the operations or emergency is of the standard to fall within this criterion.
Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is on ex-service personnel (a) receiving and (b) wearing the campaign medal being offered by the Government of Malaysia. [30619]
Mr. Straw [holding answer 21 November 2005]: The offer by the Government of Malaysia to present the Pingat Jasa Malaysia medal, a commemorative rather than a campaign medal, is being considered by the Committee on the Grant of Honours, Decorations and Medals under the Government's rules governing the accepting and wearing of Foreign Awards, Decorations and Medals by British citizens. The Committee is also reviewing these rules.
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