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Armed Forces Bill

I have listened carefully to the exchanges across the Committee on this matter. It goes to the heart of the ethos of the Armed Forces. An important part of that ethos is to make clear the need for respect towards a senior to support the command relationship. The lack of a definition of ““disrespectful”” is not a problem, because all members of the Armed Forces are given clear training in how to address their superiors and how to behave towards them. In this context, what amounts to ““disrespectful”” within the ethos of the Armed Forces is clear. Therefore, the concern that the noble Lord, Lord Thomas of Gresford, has relating to the word being too broad and not defined is not in practice an issue that would cause us a problem. We recognise that there is a judgment to be made on the maximum sentence of 10 years, which is a reduction from an indeterminate period of imprisonment in these circumstances, and we think that 10 years is appropriate.