To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which medals issued by NATO British service personnel are permitted (a) to receive and (b) to wear; and if he will make a statement. (136029)

Approval has been given for British Service personnel to accept and wear the NATO medals for service in:

Former Republic of Yugoslavia, between 1 July 1992 and 31 December 2002;

Kosovo, between 13 October 1998 and 31 December 2002;

Macedonia, between 1 June 2001 and 31 December 2002.

NATO replaced the above awards with a NATO (Non-Article 5) Balkans medal, with effect from 1 January 2003 to a future date to be decided. Approval has been given for British service personnel to accept and wear this medal if they are not already in possession of any of the previous NATO medals for service in this region.

Other NATO medals that are currently available that may be presented to British personnel have not been approved for wear.