§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Defence in how many cases in each of the last four years disciplinary proceedings have been taken because of unfair, cruel or brutal treatment in the armed forces.
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§ Mr. Freeman[pursuant to his reply, 23 March 1987, c. 2]Disciplinary proceedings are brought under the terms of the service discipline Acts. These make it an offence for an officer, warrant officer or non-commissioned officer to strike or otherwise ill-treat a person of inferior rank: the relevant provisions are contained in section 36A of the Naval Discipline Act 1957, section 65 of the Army Act 1955 and section 65 of the Air Force Act 1955. Numbers of convictions following disciplinary proceedings under these sections in the last four years are as follows:
Royal Navy and Royal Marines1 Army Royal Air Force 1983 15 42 2 1984 5 63 4 1985 — 62 8 1986 — 50 5 1 Figures for 1985 and 1986 have not yet been collated. Details of disciplinary proceedings not resulting in convictions could be provided only at disproportionate cost.