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Armed Forces Bill

I support Amendments Nos. 95 and 96 of the noble Earl, Lord Attlee. In our discussions with the Bill team, we have spoken on occasions about the difficulty of harmonising the various traditional punishments available to the three services, which have differed over the years. I agree with the noble Earl that it seems unnecessary in this case to harmonise upwards from 60 days to 90 days to accommodate the Royal Navy, detention being different from imprisonment. However, I disagree with the noble Earl on his Amendment No. 162. Given that the offences for which detention is imposed are, by their nature, less severe than those that would bring imprisonment, we do not need to include circumstances in which people may be put in prison when they have been sentenced to detention.