§ Mr. WatersonTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what response the Government are making to the European Court of Human Rights judgment on the Findlay court-martial case; and if he will make a statement. [18699]
§ Mr. SoamesThe Government fully support the court-martial system as the appropriate and necessary framework within which to deal with military discipline.
We have recently made a number of changes to reform aspects of the court-martial system as part of the Armed Forces Act 1996. As I said when announcing our preliminary proposals in the Armed Forces Bill to the House on 7 December 1995—Official Report, columns 346–47—the changes represent a valuable and coherent package of reforms and improvements to take the court-martial system into the next century. The new arrangements will enable it to continue to meet the armed forces' requirement to administer justice firmly but fairly.
Although the court found the United Kingdom to be in violation of article 6(1) of the European convention on human rights, the court has recognised our action in reforming the court-martial system, and in its judgment describes the changes we have made, noting with satisfaction that we have done so. The court made clear that its judgment applies to the system that existed before the reforms we have made. These are due to be introduced on 1 April 1997.