§ 80. Mr. Longdenasked the Secretary of State for War if his attention has been drawn to the dissatisfaction with the excessive punishment that is meted out to members of His Majesty's Forces, particularly in the Army, on account of absence without leave; and whether he will institute an inquiry into King's Rules and Regulations with a view to causing early improvement.
§ Mr. Lawson:As far as the Army is concerned, an instruction was issued by the Army Council quite recently laying down, as a guide for court martial tribunals, a scale of punishments for desertion considerably less stringent than those in operation during the war. It follows automatically from the instruction that punishments for absence without leave will also be less stringent in proportion. Punishments, whether awarded summarily or by court martial are subject to scrutiny by higher authority, who have powers of remission, suspension, etc., with which the House is familiar. I am satisfied that the punishments now being awarded in the Army are not excessive.