§ 80. Mr. Rankinasked the Secretary of State for War if he will make a statement on the arrest and imprisonment by the civil authority in Malta of men of the Royal Highland Fusiliers, who were charged with the theft of cars.
§ Mr. ProfumoEleven soldiers of the Royal Highland Fusiliers were involved in these incidents. Five of them have been dealt with by the civil authorities and awarded sentences of imprisonment of between 30 and 40 days each. The remainder have been remanded in custody.
The trial of soldiers by the civil power in Malta is determined by agreement between the civil and military authorities; in this case the offences were predominantly concerned with civilian property. It appears that these soldiers missed the last bus back to their unit and took private cars without the owners' permission to return to barracks.
I have read allegations that the soldiers concerned committed these crimes in order to escape harsh discipline within the unit. This is not the case. Incidentally I have myself recently visited this regiment. It is an excellent regiment and well administered. This incident was a case of misbehaviour by a few soldiers who only recently joined the unit in Malta.