Matters concerning the commissioningof medals for military service are reserved, initially, to the Ministry of Defence,and Scottish ministers have no locus to intervene in the these decisions.In recognition of service inthe Arctic during the Second World War, the UK Government has specially commissionedthe Arctic Emblem to commemorate the service of Merchant Seamen and members of theArmed Forces in the Arctic Region between 3 September 1939 and 8 May 1945.