§ Mr. Manningham-Bullerasked the Secretary of State for War whether Home 871W Guard officers and men who are tried by courts-martial and. not sentenced to detention, imprisonment or penal servitude, are kept in close arrest after their trial and pending promulgation; whether courts-martial are empowered in such cases to order the accused to be placed in open arrest; and, if not, whether he will consider the grant of such powers to courts-martial in order to avoid unnecessary loss of liberty?
§ Sir J. GriggCourts-martial are not empowered to order the accused referred to in the first part of the Question to be placed in open arrest. The confirming authority, however, has this power which I think it would usually exercise as soon as it receives the proceedings of the court-martial in such a case. I am, however, having inquiries made into the way this is working in the case of Home Guards.
§ Mr. Thorneasked the Secretary of State for War whether he can give any information in connection with the death of a Home Guard corporal, who died during a field exercise on Sunday morning, 6th June, at West Wickham, Kent?
§ Sir J. GriggInquiries are being made into this case.