HC Deb 27 March 1917 vol 92 cc385-6

The rules for field punishment shall include Regulations providing that when an offender is attached for a period to a fixed object he shall not be attached in such a way as to prevent him from moving his hands and feet, nor with his arms extended above his head or at a right-angle from his body.—[Mr. Edmund Harvey.]

Clause brought up, and read the first time.

Mr. EDMUND HARVEY

I beg to move, "That the Clause be read a second time."

This is carrying out the suggestion I made on the Second Reading yesterday My hon. Friend the Under-Secretary kindly promised that he would consider words which might be inserted in this Bill to carry out Regulations recently made by the War Office dealing with Field Punishment No. 1, and removing from that field punishment the danger of its being used, as it has been in the past, in the form popularly known as crucifixion. The new Regulations intro- duced recently by the War Office entirely remove the possibility of that form of punishment in the Army. What I wish to secure is that it shall have statutory effect. I do not wish to delay the Committee by arguing the matter further, and I formally move the new Clause.

Mr. MACPHERSON

I am grateful on behalf of the War Office to my hon. Friend the Member for Leeds for the reasonable way in which he has drafted this Amendment, and for his acknowledgment of the fact that the War Office has fulfilled its pledge in altering or standardising the system of punishment known as Field Punishment No. 1. While not accepting my hon. Friend's Clause, I think I can give him an undertaking, which I hope he will accept, that we shall insert in the rules of procedure under Section 44 of the Army Act conditions which will require a system in the matter. I hope that will appeal to my hon. Friend as a reasonable thing to do, and that he will accept the undertaking.

Mr. HARVEY

I am very glad to have the assurance of my hon. Friend. I am sure it will give great satisfaction in the country that this will become part of the regular Army procedure.

Motion and Clause, by leave, withdrawn.

Bill reported, with an Amendment; as amended, considered; read the third time, and passed.

The remaining Orders were read, and postponed.

It being after half-past Eleven of the clock upon Tuesday evening, Mr. DEPUTY SPEAKER adjourned the House, without Question put, pursuant to the Standing-Order.

Adjourned at Twenty-eight minutes before Two o'clock, 28th March.