Asked by: James Daly (Conservative - Bury North)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many armed forces personnel from a BAME background have been nominated for a military honour which was not awarded in the last 10 years; and what representations his Department has received on posthumously awarding Walter Daniel Tull a military honour in recognition of his service in World War One.
Answered by Leo Docherty - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
Nominations for military honours which are subsequently unsuccessful are not retained by the Government.
The Government has received many representations requesting that Lieutenant Walter Tull be awarded an honour in recognition of his bravery. Although his actions were no doubt courageous, it is a longstanding principle of our national honours and awards system not to make retrospective awards. This policy dates back to an Army Order of 1919 that stated that no further awards would be given for services in First World War. This principle remains in force today.