HC Deb 20 December 1999 vol 341 cc357-8W
Mr. Key

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the average(a) cost and (b) length, in each armed service, of (i) a summary hearing and (ii) a court-martial. [102531]

Mr. Spellar

(i) It is not possible to provide information for summary hearings. This level of detail is not recorded.

(ii) There are no detailed figures to indicate the average duration of a court-martial and costs for each trial are not recorded. However, calculations have been performed that show the average daily rate of a court-martial for each Service. They are as follows:

Naval Service

£1,200

Army

£1,600

RAF

£1,700.

Experience shows that a contested trial at court-martial lasts on average about two and a half days.

Mr. Key

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for each armed service(a) how many applications were made for redress of grievance and (b) what was the average length of time between application and conclusion of the process, in each of the past five years. [102529]

Mr. Spellar

I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

Mr. Key

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many personnel in(a) the Royal Navy, (b) the Army and (c) the RAF have elected for court-martial rather than face a summary hearing since 1997. [102525]

Mr. Spellar

There has not been a need to compile statistics across the Services in a way that would enable this information to be provided in detail. However, such figures as are available for the three Services indicate that less than 1 per cent. of those facing summary dealings have elected to be tried by court-martial.

Mr. Key

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for each of the armed services, how many courts-martial have been convened in each of the past five years; and at what locations. [102528]

Mr. Spellar

I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

Mr. Key

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for each armed service, what is the average time a suspect spends in custody awaiting court martial. [102534]

Mr. Spellar

The information is as follows:

Army

Since January 1999, 70 soldiers in court martial cases have been held in close arrest for an average period of 80 days while awaiting trial for serious offences.

RN/RAF

No cases are recorded over the past three years of suspects held in custody awaiting court martial.

Mr. Key

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many personnel in each of the armed services were(a) arrested by civilian police, (b) released by civilian police into the custody of the Royal Military Police,(c) arrested by civilian police and taken before a magistrate and (d) released from magistrates' courts into the custody of the Royal Military Police, in (i) 1997, (ii) 1998 and (iii) 1999. [102530]

Mr. Spellar

There has been no historical requirement to compile statistics across the three services in a way which would enable this detailed information to be provided.