To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent changes have been made to the eligibility criteria for the Fire Brigade’s Long Service and Good Conduct Medal; what the criteria are; whether staff in the new Regional Fire Control centres are eligible for the medal; and if she will make a statement. (229706)

There have been no recent changes to the eligibility criteria for the Fire Brigade Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, which are set out in full in the Royal Warrant. Broadly, the warrant provides that eligibility extends to members of all ranks in fire brigades and aerodrome fire services maintained by local authorities in the United Kingdom or public airport companies, members of fire brigades or services maintained by Government Departments in the UK, certain Commonwealth territories or the British Airports Authority whose conditions of employment include a liability to engage in fire-fighting, and to certain other fire service personnel who are Crown servants. Staff in the new Regional Fire Control Centres which are local authority owned companies will not be in fire brigade employment and will not be eligible.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many Fire and Rescue Service Long Service and Good Conduct medals were awarded in each of the last 10 years; and if she will make a statement. (229707)

For the 10 year period 1 January 1999 to 27 October 2008 14,394 Long Service and Good Conduct medals have been awarded to those eligible.

For 2008, to date (27 October 2008), 1,209 medals have been awarded.

For the previous nine years, 1999 to 2007 inclusive, the number of medals awarded were: