§ 35. Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions his Department has received representations regarding section 10 of the Crown Proceedings Act 1947 from each of (a) hon. Members, (b) members of the public, (c) members of the armed forces and (d) the organisation The Section Ten Abolition Group; and if he will make a statement on his policy regarding this matter.
§ Mr. FreemanFor practical reasons I shall confine my answer to written representations received this year. Representations from hon. Members total 141 and those from other sources total approximately 325. It is not possible to allocate the 325 to the categories requested since it is frequently unclear whether an approach is from a member of the Section Ten Abolition Group or simply someone sympathetic to its demands. In addition two petitions have been received—one each from the Section Ten Abolition Group and the British Nuclear Test Veterans Association. The hon. Member will be aware from the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence to my hon. Friend the Member for Gravesham (Mr. Brinton) yesterday that the Government have decided that section 10 should be repealed.