HC Deb 10 February 1939 vol 343 c1242W
Mr. Parker

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he will state the types of offences for which, if committed ashore and outside the jurisdiction of the Naval Discipline Act, naval ratings, after being punished in a civil court, are also punished by the naval authorities; the nature of the naval punishments; and the number so doubly punished in the latest year for which the figures are available?

Colonel Llewellin

It is not the practice to punish naval ratings twice for the same offence, and the third part of the question, does not, therefore, arise. Certain naval penalties, however, may follow a civil conviction if the offence has shown that the offender is not worthy of the rewards of good conduct or of the responsible position previously enjoyed by him. Such penalties, which are distinct from punishments, include deprivation of the good conduct medal or one or more good conduct badges, and if the offence is specially serious or repeated the man may be disrated or even discharged from the Service. Full details of the penalties which may be imposed are set out in Article 598, King's Regulations and Admiralty Instructions.