Armed Forces Bill

Absolutely. I never rose to the rank or grandeur of my hon. Friend, and my experience of the armed forces is even more dated than his. As a platoon commander in a rifle regiment on operations in Northern Ireland, I represented the views of one of my soldiers to my company commander when that soldier committed a military offence, and I stood in at the hearing at which the charge was put and a punishment was meted out. As a company second in command, I represented my company commander at hearings with the commanding officer when people under my command had committed more serious offences. Clause 116 would impose a glass ceiling, which would mean no responsibility for commanding officers if a crime is serious enough.