§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what inquiries he has made as to the effect of lifting the ban on lesbians and gay men serving in the armed forces of those countries in which the ban has been lifted; and if he will name the countries concerned.
§ Mr. HanleyWe are aware that some countries allow homosexuals to serve in their armed forces and that the Australian and Canadian armed forces have recently lifted their ban on homosexuals.
§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the position of lesbians and gay men in the armed services; when he will bring forward528W legislation to decriminalise homosexuality in the armed forces; and if in the interim he will refrain from pursuing criminal proceedings in respect of homosexuality.
§ Mr. HanleyHomosexuals are precluded from service in the armed forces. The Ministry of Defence has accepted that homosexual activity of a kind that is legal in civil life should no longer constitute an offence under service law. The amendment to the law will be made as soon as the legislative programme allows. In the meantime, it is not intended to prosecute service personnel who engage in homosexual activity that is legal in civilian law unless there are other grounds for prosecution under service law. Personnel who engage in homosexual activity that is lawful under civilian law will, however, continue to be administratively discharged from the services.