§ 103B.—(1) Subject to subsections (2) and (3) below, a field general court-martial shall consist of the president and not less than two other air-force officers.
§ (2) If the officer who convened the field general court-martial is of opinion that three air-force officers having suitable qualifications are not available without serious detriment to the public service, the field general court-martial shall consist of the president and one other air-force officer.
§ (3) Unless the officer convening the field general court-martial is of opinion that a judge advocate is not available without serious detriment to the public service, a judge advocate shall be a member of the court-martial.
§ (4) In subsection (3) above, "a judge advocate" means a judge advocate appointed by or on behalf of the Judge Advocate General or, if the officer convening the field general court-martial is of opinion that no such judge advocate is available without serious detriment to the public service, a qualified officer appointed by that officer.
§ (5) An officer is "qualified" for the purposes of subsection (4) above if he is—
- (a) a person who has a general qualification within the meaning of section 71 of the Courts and Legal Services Act 1990;
- (b) an advocate or solicitor in Scotland; or
- (c) a member of the Bar of Northern Ireland or a solicitor of the Supreme Court of Northern Ireland.
§ (6) The president of a field general court-martial shall not be below the rank of flight lieutenant.
§ (7) If a field general court-martial is to be convened at any place where in the opinion of the officer convening it the necessary number of air-force officers having suitable qualifications is not available to form the court, and cannot be made available without serious detriment to the public service, the officer may appoint as any member of the court (but not as its president) any naval or military officer of corresponding rank to that required for an air-force officer.
§ (8) A field general court-martial shall have the powers of a general court-martial except that where less than three officers are members of the court the sentence shall not exceed imprisonment for a term of two years or detention under section 71AA of this Act for a period of two years.
§ (9) In this section—
- "air-force officer" means an officer belonging to Her Majesty's air forces and subject to air-force law;
- "military officer" means an officer belonging to Her Majesty's military forces and subject to military law; and
- "naval officer" means an officer belonging to Her Majesty's naval forces and subject to the Naval Discipline Act 1957.