HC Deb 13 March 1980 vol 980 cc711-2W
Mr. Ernie Roberts

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what are the maximum powers of minor punishment which can be inflicted by commanding officers or company commanders in the Army on officers, warrant officers, non-commissioned officers and other ranks, without the defendant having any right to elect trial by court martial.

Mr Hayhoe

Commanding officers may summarily award severe reprimands to non-commissioned officers and minor punishments to soldiers, as authorised by the Defence Council, such as restrictions of privileges, extra guards or picquets, or admonitions. Company commanders may award reprimands to corporals and minor punishments to soldiers. Officers of the rank of lieutenant colonel and above cannot be dealt with summarily; and officers of the rank of major and below, and warrant officers, may be dealt with summarily only by the appropriate superior authority, not by the commanding officer or company commander.

Mr. Ernie Roberts

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what are the maximum powers of summary punishment which can be inflicted by commanding officers in the Army on officers, warrant officers, non-commissioned officers, other ranks, and civilians subject to military law subject to the right of the defendant to elect trial by court martial.

Mr. Hayhoe

Subject to the right of the defendant to elect trial by court martial, commanding officers may award against non-commissioned officers a fine not exceeding 28 days pay or the maxi- mum a civil court could award for the same offence, if this is less; and may sentence soldiers to detention for periods not exceeding 60 days. Officers below the rank of lieutenant colonel, warrant officers, and civilians may be dealt with summarily only by the appropriate superior authority, not by commanding officers.