Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Ministry of Defence

Oral Answers to Questions

Edward Leigh Excerpts
Monday 12th September 2016

(7 years, 7 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton Portrait Mark Lancaster
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The French have awarded approximately 3,500 medals, and we have sent the French about 4,300 applications. At the moment, the process is taking between six and eight weeks. I appreciate that that is still a significant period given the age of the cohort in question, but I can assure the right hon. Gentleman, who has pursued the issue persistently over the past year, that we have done everything we can to make the process as quick as possible given the circumstances and the age of the veterans involved.

Edward Leigh Portrait Sir Edward Leigh (Gainsborough) (Con)
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Through you, Mr Speaker, may I say as chair of the all-party France group that the French embassy is doing its best in difficult circumstances, and that if anybody has a constituent who has a problem, they should write to me and we will get the Légion d’Honneur to them straight away? These people deserve better, and we will do our best for them.

John Bercow Portrait Mr Speaker
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Of course, the hon. Gentleman is too modest to reveal to the House that although he is not himself a Normandy veteran, as is demonstrably apparent, he does hold the honour.