§ Mr. Footasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether in naval courts martial the court has the right to refuse permission for the accused to be examined by his defending counsel; and whether he will give figures to show in how many cases proportionate to the total number of courts martial this refusal takes place.
Mr. DugdaleThe Regulations state that a person assisting the accused may only examine him with the permission of the President, but courts have been instructed that such permission is a pure formality. In fact, no case can be recalled in recent years of a President having refused permission for the examination of the accused by his friend or counsel.
§ Mr. Footasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what steps he proposes to take to overhaul court-martial procedure in the R.N.
Mr. DugdaleThe procedure at naval courts martial is kept constantly under review in the interests of justice, and my284W noble Friend is satisfied that there is no need for a special overhaul. As my hon. Friend has been informed in answer to the Question which he addressed to the Prime Minister on 31st October, the closest attention will be given to the effects on the naval court martial system of any recommendations which may be made by the committee to be set up by the Secretary of State for War and the Secretary of State for Air.