HC Deb 17 February 1955 vol 537 cc649-50
Mr. F. Maclean

I beg to move, in page 73, line 5, after "military" to insert "or air-force."

The purpose of the Amendment is simply to make good a drafting omission. Under the circumstances foreseen in the Clause, it is occasionally more convenient for a person to be detained—I am afraid that we come back once again to the subject of detention—in Air Force custody rather than in military custody. It is very often simply a question of geographical convenience. Provision for this is made in the earlier part of the Bill, and the Amendment simply brings this subsection into line with the rest of the Bill.

Mr. Emrys Hughes

This seems to be a rather casual Amendment, and as far as I can summarise the argument of the Under-Secretary it is that the Army forgot about the Air Force. We hope that that is not symbolical. I should like to know how an airman can be rehabilitated in a military prison. Surely the purpose of sending an airman to prison is—according to the previous argument of the Under-Secretary—to make him a better airman. How can one be made a better airman in a military prison?

Amendment agreed to.

Clause, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Clauses 132 to 142 ordered to stand part of the Bill.