MISSING ARMY RECORDS AND THE ACCUMULATED CAMPAIGN SERVICE MEDAL

That this House notes that the Ministry of Defence has admitted that essential documentation relating to the duties served by soldiers in the Ulster Defence Regiment between 1970 and 1975 has been destroyed; recognises that many soldiers have thereby been deprived of their entitlement to be awarded the Accumulated Campaign Service Medal; deplores the fact that cases exist where the Board set up to adjudicate on these awards has refused to accept as a substitute, for the 'MOD destroyed' records, signed statements from commanding officers confirming the number of duties served by soldiers then under their command; and believes that in all cases such evidence should be accepted and soldiers who, with courage and dedication, served the community should not be disadvantaged because of a bureaucratic error.