Miss Rathboneasked the Attorney-General whether he is aware that men are being tried by Czech courts-martial for offences alleged to have been committed at dates prior to the passing of the Allied Armies Act, 1940, usually for offences committed in France; and what steps he is taking in the matter, in view of the assurance given by him on 21st August, 1940, that legislation cannot have retrospective effect unless this is provided for in the Act?
§ Mr. PeakeI have been asked to reply. I have no information as to the dates of the alleged commission of offences tried by Czecho-Slovak courts-martial, but I am causing inquiries to be made on this point. Some offences, such as desertion, are continuing offences and the date of the passage of the Allied Forces Act, 1940, to which, I presume, my hon. Friend refers, is accordingly not the sole criterion.