§ 13. Mr. Corbettasked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will make a statement on the terms of engagement, career and prospects of Coldstream Guardsman Tom Holdsworth.
§ Mr. MulleyGuardsman Holdsworth joined the Army as a junior soldier on 30th July 1974 and was discharged on 27th June 1977.
§ Mr. CorbettThat may be, but can my right hon. Friend say whether it is the general practice for serving officers to make favourable statements in court on behalf of Service men who have pleaded guilty to serious criminal charges? Is it not necessary to give advice to commanding officers to carry out these duties with a little more caution?
§ Mr. MulleyThere have been a lot of misunderstandings surrounding this matter, and my hon. Friend is guilty—no doubt unwittingly—of a yet further misunderstanding. There was no question of the officer going to make a favourable statement, and it was most unusual that there was such a requirement for an officer to be heard in the Court of Appeal at all. I am sorry if there have been misunderstandings about this, but there was no question of the officer acting in the way that my hon. Friend has suggested.
§ Mr. BoscawenWill the right hon. Gentleman confirm that this deplorable case in no way tarnishes the reputation or professional standards of the battalion with which this soldier was serving in Northern Ireland?
§ Mr. MulleyMy concern throughout has been to try to prevent unfair criticism of the Army in general and of the Brigade 1108 of Guards in particular. I understand that this soldier was most satisfactory in the discharge of his duties.