To ask Her Majesty's Government what are the eligibility criteria for a long service medal in the prison service.

All full-time and part-time serving staff who are employed on operational duties in the prison services of the United Kingdom and who have the necessary qualifying service are eligible for the Prison Service's (operational duties) long service and good conduct medal.

The medal will be available to eligible staff who were in service in an operational grade on or after 29 April 2008, including staff who have since retired, and who have not previously been awarded the Imperial Service Medal.

The qualifying service for the award is 20 years' continuous meritorious full or part-time operational service, or an aggregate of 20 years' continuous full and part-time operational service, completed by or after 29 April 2008.