§ Mr. Chris Smithasked the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of the armed forces in each of the last four years have been disciplined on the ground 625W of male or female homosexuality; under what military regulations they have been charged and disciplined; of the total number disciplined in each year, how many have been (a) discharged administratively, (b) dishonourably discharged, (c) court-martialled and (d) given military prison sentences; and, in these cases, what has been the minimum, maximum and average length of sentences in each year.
§ Mr. LeeNo member of the services is disciplined purely on the ground of being a homosexual. If an individual has committed no offence, he will usually be
1981 1982 1983 1984 Royal Navy Administrative discharges †2 5 6 2 Courts Martial 2 3 1 0 Dismissal/Dismassal with disgrace* — — — — Detention Sentences — — — — Prison Sentences — — — — Min-Max Sentences — — — — Average Sentences — — — — Army Administrative Discharges 68 75 51 64 Courts Martial 41 30 12 9 Dismissal/Dismissal with disgrace* 29 20 12 5 Detention Sentences 26 16 9 1 Prison Sentences 1 5 1 4 Min-Max Sentences 1 year 1year-3years 3 years 9 months-2 years Average Sentences 1 year 2 years 3 years 13 months Royal Air Force Administrative Discharges 62 33 23 21 Courts Martial 3 7 1 4 Dismissal/Dismissal with disgrace* 1 5 1 1 Detention Sentences 1 5 1 2 Prison Sentences 0 0 0 0 Min-Max Sentences 7 months 56 days-126 days 112 days 56 days Average Sentences 7 months 92 days 112 days 56 days Notes:
1. Figures refer to the number of cases brought, not to the number of convictions.
2. These actions are brought under the Naval Discipline Act 1957 and Queen's Regulations (Royal Navy); the Army Act 1955, Queen's Regulations (Army) and prerogative powers of the Army Board; the Air Force Act 1955 and Queen's Regulations (Royal Air Force).
* The term "dishonourable discharge" does not exist in the British armed services, and it is assumed that dismissal or dismissal with disgrace are referred to.
† Data on RN officers administratively discharged are available only from January 1982.