Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if he will ensure that women who worked in munitions factories during World War Two receive a medal to mark their contribution to the war effort.

The Government fully appreciates the efforts and the often very dangerous conditions experienced by those who worked in munitions factories producing vital equipment for the armed forces that helped contribute to winning the Second World War.

The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has given careful consideration to possible formal recognition of the enormous contribution made by all those who manufactured munitions during the War. Given the disruption to employment in the War years and the time elapsed since, it would unfortunately be very difficult to identify all those involved. Many of companies no longer exist and the consequent lack of records for those they employed means that there would be difficulties in verifying any entitlement. It was concluded that it would not be practical to find a way to recognise the contributions of individual workers. However we are aware that an All Party Parliamentary Group on Recognition for Munitions Workers has been set up to explore ways to recognise the collective efforts of those who worked in munitions factories and we are open to working with them on any recommendations they bring forward.