We sympathise with her loss, admire her courage and recognise the concerns of the wider community with which she bore that loss. Friend will know, however, that the granting of medals can be contentious. There is not a tradition of awarding a medal because an individual has died, however tragic the circumstances of that death. The Government keep these issues under review. I am pleased that my hon.
Friend is so grateful to the right hon.
I am sure that such support lends lustre to his early-day motion. Although I will draw my hon. Friend's remarks to the attention of my right hon. Friends, I fear that that support may not be the clinching factor that swings the decision one way or the other. This is either carelessness or an abuse of power.