§ 51. Mr. CHATERasked the First Lord of the Admiralty the number of naval ratings and Royal Marines who in the last 12 months have been punished by the civil courts for summary offences and, in addition, by the naval authorities; whether these cases are shown separately in the routine punishment returns; and whether officers punished by the civil courts are also punished by the naval authorities; and, if so, in what way?
§ The FIRST LORD of the ADMIRALTY (Sir Samuel Hoare)Cases where Naval penalties are imposed upon ratings after conviction by the Civil Power are not specially tabulated in the returns of summary punishments, and it would be a difficult matter to prepare the statistics for which the hon. Member asks. The system of Naval penalties after conviction by the Civil Power is laid down in King's Regulations, Article 598, to which I invite the hon. Member's attention. Arrests or convictions of officers are brought to the notice of the Naval authorities and the Admiralty, and disciplinary notice is taken of them by way of reprimand, imposition of half-pay or, in extreme cases, refusal to grant further employment.