§ Mr. Favellasked the Secretary of State for Defence what disciplinary powers are available to company commanders and non-commissioned officers for dealing with minor infringements of regulations in the Army.
§ Mr. StanleyThe position is governed by the relevant provisions of the Army Act 1955 and the Army Summary Jurisdiction Regulations 1972 made under that Act. Under paragraph 8 of those regulations a commanding officer may delegate to a subordinate commander the power to investigate and deal summarily with the offences with which he may deal; regulation 11 sets out the offences with which a commanding officer may deal summarily. The regulations also set out the limitations on a subordinate commander's powers of punishment. Subject to these limitations, the range of punishments available to a subordinate commander is that laid down in section 78 of the Army Act. Disciplinary powers under the Army Act and Army Summary Jurisdiction Regulations may not be delegated to non-commissioned officers.