§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will set out the rules covering the Army Board of Inquiry's reports; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonService boards of inquiry are internal inquiries held in private, to establish the facts of the matter under investigation and where appropriate to make recommendations to avoid a recurrence. The rules governing Army boards of inquiry and their reports are set out in the Board of Inquiry (Army) Rules 1956 (SI 630/1956). Related administrative instructions are included in annex A to chapter 5 of the Queen's Regulations for the Army. Both publications are available in the Library of the House.
The distribution of the reports of service boards of inquiry is normally limited to those service or Ministry authorities whose function and responsibilities require them to see the findings of the inquiry. My Department has discretion to release to others on an exceptional basis.