HC Deb 07 November 1962 vol 666 cc946-7
3. Mr. Dugdale

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty what is now the policy of the Admiralty regarding the charging of ratings before a court martial after a collision at sea; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. C. Ian Orr-Ewing

Current Admiralty policy is, as it always has been, that wherever there is a prima faciecase of an offence under the Naval Discipline Act the person concerned shall be brought to trial either summarily or by court martial. This applies equally to collisions as to other matters, and to officers as to ratings.

Mr. Dugdale

Without commenting, naturally, on the details of the court martial, may I say that I am a little surprised? I should like to ask the Civil Lord if in fact responsibility is placed on the ratings rather than on the officers. I think that this is about the first time that it has happened that a rating has been reprimanded. May I ask what effect a reprimand has on a rating, because reprimands are usually given, as far as I know, to officers?

Mr. Orr-Ewing

It is not the first time that someone other than a commanding officer has been court martial-led or charged.

Mr. Dudgale

A rating?

Mr. Orr-Ewing

It is true that in this instance the inquiry started at a lower level—in order to evolve the facts and details. It is true that one rating has been court martialled and three officers. There are still now pending the courts martial of the commanding officers. I will look into the point and perhaps I can write in detail to the right hon. Member about the effect it might have on the rating's career.

Mr. Willis

Is it not unusual for these courts martial to start with the lower ratings first and then work upwards, because if blame has been apportioned to the ratings there is probably not much left to apportion to anybody else?

Mr. Orr-Ewing

I think that I have heard in other connections that it is important to elicit the facts first before one carries on. That is why this started at this level in this instance. The facts have now been elicited and therefore it has been carried on to the courts martial of the two commanding officers.

Mr. Dugdale

Does this mean that in future ratings will be court martial-led and cases will start at the lowest level and only later will reach the commanding officers?

Mr. Orr-Ewing

No, I do not want to prejudge any future case. It entirely depends on the circumstances where action and charges start.