asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many courts martial have taken place since the implementation of the provisions of the current Armed Forces Act; and how this compares with the number which took place in the corresponding period in the previous year.

The main provisions of the Armed Forces Act 1976 relating to the trial and punishment of offences came into effect on 1st July 1977. Between 1st July and 30th November 1977 there were 366 courts martial, as compared with 603 in the corresponding period of 1976.