§ Mrs. Anne CampbellTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many district courts martial there were in 1991, 1992 and 1993.
§ Mr. HanleyThe number of district courts martial convened in the Army and RAF in 1991, 1992 and 1993 is as follows:
1991 1992 1993 Army 716 664 630 RAF 140 131 123 The Navy do not hold district courts martial, but rather give commanding officers greater powers of punishment than their Army and RAF counterparts.
§ Mrs. Anne CampbellTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements are made for soldiers posted abroad to have access to legal advice when an accused is questioned by the military police.
§ Mr. SoamesIn overseas commands, arrangements are made for suspects to be advised by service lawyers. Where no service lawyer is available to give advice, the suspect is allowed to make a free telephone call to a lawyer in the United Kingdom. In rare circumstances—due to geographical location, the availability of a legal adviser or time, for example—it will not be possible for a suspect either to consult a legal adviser or to have one present at an interview.
§ Mrs. Anne CampbellTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to review the military criminal justice system.
§ Mr. SoamesThe services' system of discipline and criminal justice is governed by the Service Discipline Acts. The main purpose of the quinquennial Armed Forces Bills is to give authority, when they are enacted, for the Services554W Discipline Acts to continue in force for a further five years, but they are also an opportunity to review the Services Discipline Acts. The next Armed Forces Bill is due to be introduced in the 1995–96 Session.
§ Mrs. Anne CampbellTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence in how many courts martial cases the accused pleaded guilty in 1991, 1992 and 1993.
§ Mr. SoamesIn 1991, about 675 guilty pleas were made at courts martial, across the three services, and 650 in 1992. Figures are not yet available for 1993.