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Armed Forces Bill

That is an extremely good intervention and a fair one. The commanding officer does not always need to dish out justice to the soldier, but he needs to examine rigorously every case before him involving any soldier, sailor or airman under his command. If he does not do so, he is failing the often simple souls who require that officer to give them that protection. That is what worries me so much about the idea of a service policeman being brought into the equation at such an early stage. I reiterate the point that I made to the hon. Member for North Durham. It would be a foolish commanding officer who, in the event of almost any other than a routine offence, did not quickly get legal advice and call in the Royal Military Police special investigations branch for their guidance.