HC Deb 11 February 1980 vol 978 c499W
Mr. Ernie Roberts

asked the Secretary of State for Defence for how many offences the death penalty is available to an Army court martial in respect of accused persons, including civilians (a) in the United Kingdom in time of peace and (b) outside the United Kingdom.

Mr. Hayhoe

An Army court martial may impose the death penalty, in certain circumstances, for piracy with violence, serious misconduct in action, assisting the enemy with intent to do so, mutiny, incitement to mutiny, failure to suppress a mutiny, both in the United Kingdom and overseas, and also for treason outside the United Kingdom only.

These offences may be committed in peace or war. Civilians may be treated similarly under the Army Act only when accompanying a body of the regular forces on active service in the United Kingdom or overseas. No sentence of death has been passed under the Army Act or other Service Discipline Acts since 1953.