§ 15 and 16. Dr. Comynsasked the Secretary of State for War (1) if the peti- 8 tion of Corporal Stannard against his conviction for mutiny at Port Said in December, 1946, has yet been heard and with what result; and whether the hon. Member for Silvertown will now have an opportunity of reading the evidence submitted at the court-martial;
(2) if he is aware that, at the courtmartial of Corporal Stannard, charged with mutiny at Port Said in December, 1946, defending counsel was alleged to have refused to call essential witnesses for the defence although requested to do so by the accused man; and whether, in view of this and other allegations, he will have the whole conduct of the court-martial proceedings personally investigated.
§ Mr. BellengerI have not yet heard the result of Corporal Stannard's petition against his conviction and have called for a report from M.E.L.F. on this and on the points referred to in my hon. Friend's second Question. I have taken steps to expedite the report and will write to my hon. Friend when it has been received. The Proceedings of Trial have been kept in M.E.L.F. pending review by the Commander-in-Chief. I do not wish to divert them until the overseas Command have completed their action, but they will be reviewed on arrival in this country. As I have already informed my hon. Friend, I will consider letting him see them when I receive them.