§ 2.42 p.m.
§ LORD RUSSELL OF LIVERPOOLMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, having regard to the fact that the Ministries of all the three Services are now co-ordinated under the Ministry of Defence, they will abolish the Office of the Judge Advocate of the Fleet, centralise the administration of all courts-martial under the Judge Advocate General of the Forces and set up a Department of Naval Legal Services, with a legally qualified staff, in the Ministry of Defence for the Navy.]
§ THE PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF PUBLIC BUILDING AND WORKS (LORD WINTERBOTTOM)My Lords, the possibility of rationalising legal services in the Armed Forces has recently been examined in detail. One of the conclusions reached was that there would be no advantage in merging the administration of discipline in the Fleet with the organisation of the Judge Advocate General for the Forces. The Royal Navy is already well served by qualified barristers in the Fleet itself and they have the assistance of other General List officers experienced in disciplinary matters. In appropriate cases, the Admiralty Board might also seek legal guidance from the other learned advisers of Her Majesty's Government. Her Majesty's Government consider that these arrangements are satisfactory and see no need to supplant them by establishing a Department of Naval Legal Services
§ LORD RUSSELL OF LIVERPOOLMy Lords, may I thank the noble Lord for his reply? Obviously, I cannot deal with it by form of question, so I shall have to give notice to bring the matter up on another occasion.