---

Armed Forces Bill

I defer to the hon. Gentleman’s experience, but that is best practice. There may be cases in which the commanding officer does not refer to his senior, so the provision provides important protection for him. Throughout our evidence-taking sessions and on our visits to establishments both in the UK and abroad, the chiefs of staff and commanding officers did not suggest that there was a serious problem. Former chiefs of staff and the Conservative party have difficulties with the proposal and there have been efforts to perpetuate the myth that the Bill interferes with the legal process and the command structure of the British armed forces. Clearly, it does not do so. As the hon. Gentleman said, I usually deal with facts, and it is important that we do not allow irresponsible comments by people who should know better to damage the Bill.