Armed Forces Bill

I thank noble Lords who have spoken on behalf of my amendment. I listened with great interest to the details of the speech that the Minister made. I made a point at the end of my comments about whether this advice to the sovereign was or was not prerogatively engaged. The Minister made it very clear that the sovereign was being advised by the HD committee, whereas I have in front of me two statements. The first, a Written Answer by the noble Baroness, Lady Symons of Vernham Dean, says: "““HMG's rules on the acceptance and wearing of foreign awards preclude the acceptance””," and so on, and that, "““All British citizens require permission from HMG to accept and wear foreign state awards””.—[Official Report, 11/1/05; col. WA34.]" A year later, in January 2006, there was a Written Ministerial Statement that said: "““It is longstanding government policy that non-British medals will not be approved for events or service””—[Official Report, 31/1/06; col. WS14]—" that is, events or service governed by the five-year rule or the double-medalling rule. So I am not absolutely clear, and perhaps the Minister either now or at a later date can clarify for us the position, as he sees it being adopted.