§ SIR JOHN HAYasked the Secretary to the Admiralty, Whether Her Majesty's Government will be inclined to grant a Committee of this House to inquire into the provisions of the Naval Discipline Act Amendment Bill, in accordance with the wish of Naval officers who are members of both political parties in this House, as shown by the 505 Notice on the Order Book, which there has been no opportunity to discuss; and, whether, seeing that the infliction of the sentence of corporal punishment can be suspended by Order in Council, Her Majesty's Government will, in preference, consider the prudence of so suspending it, rather than abolish entirely a punishment which, especially on distant and detached service and in time of war, is held by many essential to the maintenance of the discipline of the Navy?
§ MR. TREVELYANSir, with regard to the first part of the Question, the Government are not willing to grant a Committee which would re-open the question of corporal punishment. That punishment has been abolished in the Army, and the Government, as far as in them lies, have decided to abolish it in the Navy. I understand that the right hon. and gallant Baronet is prepared to apply to the Naval Discipline Act Amendment Bill an amount of unfavourable criticism, which will take it out of the category of measures which the Government proposed to press. Under these circumstances, the Bill will not be proceeded with this year; but a Circular Letter will at once be written to commanders-in-chief and senior officers acquainting them that all the Regulations authorizing the use of the lash as a summary punishment are to be considered as cancelled; that as the powers of courts martial to award sentences of flogging can only be removed by legislation, commanders-in-chief are to take care that such sentences are not carried into effect without reference to the Admiralty in each case; and that the president of every court martial should be advised that corporal punishment should not form part of the sentence. This letter will, I think, meet the views of the right hon. and gallant Member, as expressed in the last part of his Question.
§ SIR JOHN HAYsaid, the hon. Gentleman had conceded what he desired.