§ Mr. James Davidsonasked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will refer the Sandhurst Royal Military Academy Standing Orders to his legal advisers for review under the terms of the Army Act;
(2) why senior cadets at Sandhurst Royal Military Academy are allowed by standing orders to award extra training as a punishment to junior cadets; and what is the authority for this course of conduct.
§ Mr. BoydenI do not intend to review the Standing Orders. These were reviewed in 1962 to ensure that they did not infringe the legal rights of the officer cadets, the requirements of the Army Act or the regulations made under it. Senior Under Officers at Sandhurst are given limited responsibility by the Commandant through Standing Orders to assist in the maintenance of proper standards of dress and discipline. To assist in this process Senior Under Officers are given limited powers to authorise extra training, where necessary.