HC Deb 14 January 2003 vol 397 cc545-6W
Mr. Cox

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the military detention centres in the UK [89663]

Dr. Moonie

There is only one military detention centre, the Military Corrective Training Centre at Berechurch Hill Camp, Colchester, Essex. Servicemen and women from all three Services who are sentenced by courts-martial to undergo periods of detention serve their sentence there.

Mr. Cox

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what independent organisations oversee the running of UK military detention centres; and if he will make a statement. [89668]

Dr. Moonie

The Military Corrective Training Centre (MCTC), Colchester, Essex, is visited on a regular basis by an independent Board of Visitors comprising twelve people. The Board is appointed by my right hon. Friend

RAF
2000 2001 2002
Guilty Not guilty Guilty Not guilty Guilty Not guilty
Female
Corporal — — — — 1 1
SAC 1 1 5 1 6 —
AC — — — — 2 —
Mr. Cox

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many(a) men and (b) women have been sentenced to a period of detention by a UK military court martial in each of the last three years. [89666]

Dr. Moonie

The following number of men and women have been sentenced to a period of detention by United Kingdom courts-martial in the last three years:

Male Female
Year RN Army RAF RN Army RAF
2000 11 163 19 1 4 Nil
2001 18 216 30 2 3 Nil
2002 26 205 12 2 1 5

The above figures included suspended sentences of detention.

Mr. Cox

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the longest period of detention was to which(a) a man and (b) a woman has been sentenced by a UK military court martial in each of the last three years. [89667]

Dr. Moonie

The longest period of military detention which was awarded to a male and female member of each Service over the past three years is as follows:

the Secretary of State for Defence and reports directly to him. MCTC is also included in visits by the Council of Europe Committee for the Prevention of Torture, who last visited on 12 and 13 February 2001 during a tour of United Kingdom penal establishments generally.