§ Mrs. GillanTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what plans there are for the Manual of Military Law Part III to be(a) be revised, (b) reprinted and (c) reissued; and if he will make a statement; [155920]
(2) when the most recent edition of the Manual of Military Law Part III was printed; if this edition is currently in use; and if he will make a statement; [155918]
(3) if the Manual of Military Law Part III, is held by all military units; and what the policy is on Part III being held by units; [155916]
(4) if all members of the armed forces (a) have issued to them and (b) have access to the Manual of Military Law Part III; and if he will make a statement; [155919]
(5) what the legal status is of the Manual of Military Law; and if he will make a statement. [155915]
§ Mr. SpellarThe Manual of Military Law Part III (MML Pt III) was first published in 1958. MML Pt III is an academic legal text, a reference document for lawyers, and a detailed, if dated, commentary on the rules of war. In practice, the incorporation of legal requirement in 197W Rules of Engagement, courses on international law at all levels at appropriate times, and cards setting out main war crimes issued to servicemen going into combat are all more relevant to servicemen than MML Pt III. As such, MML Pt III is only one way in which the Law of Armed Conflict is disseminated in the Army.
There are no plans to reprint MML Pt III in its current form but it has not been withdrawn from circulation. Copies are still held at unit and formation level and further copies may be requested from the Central Services Establishment, Llangennech.
MML Pt III is being completely rewritten as a Joint Service Publication (JSP 383) and will therefore cover the law of armed conflict applicable to land, sea and air operations. A timetable for publication and distribution has not yet been fixed as draft texts are still being considered.