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Mr. Michael Cocks
asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will specify the unavoidable delays which took place before Leading Writer Peter Francis Bryant was summarily tried under the Naval Discipline Act on 19th June 1973.
Mr. Buck
The sequence of events in this case was as follows:(
a) Following the report of the facts to Leading Writer Bryant's commanding officer the case was referred to the civil authorities who considered whether the circumstances necessitated proceedings in the civil courts. A decision against this course having been made,
( b) the matter was referred back to the naval authorities to take action as appropriate
under the Naval Discipline Act 1917 and this led to Leading Writer Bryant's trial on 19th June 1973.