---

Army, Air Force and Naval Discipline Acts (Continuation) Order 2005

I thank the noble Lords, Lord   Astor of Hever and Lord Addington, for their comments and support in principle for this statutory instrument. I shall respond to the points raised by both of them—they were well made—on why we have not published the Bill in draft. The Bill will be long and, in part, complex. Many of the elements interrelate. We are determined to get it right, and it is taking time. We recognise the sense of frustration of Members of the Committee, and for that reason my noble friend Lord   Drayson is making efforts to keep noble Lords informed about the detail of our proposals through briefings, one of which they will know takes place next week. I am happy to talk to noble Lords outside this debate about the details of that briefing. We have of course kept internal stakeholders—various sections of the MoD—constantly in touch with the Bill as it is being drafted. The noble Lord, Lord Astor, asked me about proposals for successor legislation. In the recent report, the Defence Committee saw merit in a formal renewal arrangement. Regular renewal of service law ensures that the legislation is kept up to date, as well as fulfilling the constitutional requirement of the Bill of Rights on the maintenance of a standing army. We would not change those arrangements lightly, but have not reached a settled view on the issue. He also asked about proposals for handling of the Bill in Parliament. Again, that is a matter on which we have yet to take a final view. It will of course be for discussion through the usual channels. Both noble Lords touched on the famous ““modernisation””. In the sense that we are talking about it this afternoon, we see modernisation as the fact that we have been renewing the offences unique to service life, to see whether they remain necessary or relevant. Some of them go back hundreds of years. We have also used more   modern language to make the meaning of the offence clear. The noble Lord, Lord Astor, asked about modernisation so far as the complaints procedure might be covered. Service personnel have a statutory right to make complaints about any matter in which they think themselves wronged. We shall continue that right, but our proposals on redress of complaints will be aimed at a more speedy resolution. It is modernisation in that sense. I reassure the Committee that the commanding officer will remain the initial point for that part of any resolution of a complaint. On Question, Motion agreed to.