Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the remarks of Baroness Williams of Trafford on 19 December 2016 (HL Deb, col 1477), whether the relevant statutes relating to military offences have now been identified; and if so, how they will be added to the list of service disciplinary offences set out in the Policing and Crime Bill.

A very large number of Army statutes which might also include further relevant offences including buggery offences have been identified which predate the Army Act 1881. These include the annual Mutiny Acts that applied the Articles of War and reach back to, at least, 1689. As my noble Friend, Baroness Williams of Trafford, indicated at Third Reading of the Policing and Crime Bill on 19 December 2016 (Official Report, column 1477), we are continuing to research this issue. Further primary legislation would be needed to add to the list of Service disciplinary offences set out in what is currently clause 166 of the Policing and Crime Bill and we will continue to explore suitable opportunities for this.