§ 51. Mr. Marshasked the Minister of Defence if, in view of the widespread anxiety caused by the exclusion in certain circumstances of the Press from courts-martial, he will so co-ordinate measures that the Service Departments ensure that in future adequate notice is 130W given to representatives of the Press of such proceedings.
§ Mr. WatkinsonThere is no question of excluding the Press from courts-martial otherwise than for reasons of security or in the interests of justice as provided by law. The position is therefore the same as in the civil courts in this country.
As regards the arrangements for publicising courts-martial, my right hon. Friends the Service Ministers are introducing certain improvements. First, brief descriptions of charges will always be included in the public notices of forthcoming courts-martial which are displayed in recognised places accessible to the Press and public at least twenty-four hours in advance. Second, in all cases copies of the charge sheets will be made available to the Press at the trial.