asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what report has been received from the Naval Court Martial Committee; and when it is proposed to publish it.

The Committee appointed under the Chairmanship of Mr. Justice Pilcher presented on 21st February its first report dealing with the court martial aspect of its terms of reference. The report is now under consideration and will be published when His Majesty's Government are ready to announce their decision.

Can the hon. Gentleman say when that will be?

Yes, Sir, when consideration has been given to it.

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that the Senior Service has been holding up the whole question of courts martial for a very long time, and that the matter is now very urgent?

Does that mean that the Lewis Report will be published almost immediately as well?

That is a question which should be addressed to the Secretary of State for War.