asked the Minister for Defence the number of holders of service medals 1916 and 1917-21 who are still alive; and the number who have no pension or allowance or have under £5 per week pension or allowance.

It is estimated that approximately 23,000 holders of the 1916 medal and the service (1917-1921) medal are still alive and of these it is estimated that approximately 11,700 have no pension or allowance. There are 3,161 military service pensions and 2,818 special allowances of less than £5 per week in payment. My Department have no records of the death of medal holders other than pensioners or holders of special allowances.