---

Armed Forces Bill

moved Amendment No. 132: Page 78, line 3, at end insert- ““( ) Court Martial rules must make provision for the majority of the Court Martial panel to be drawn from the defendant's own service.”” The noble Lord said: There is nothing in the Bill to ensure that the majority of a court martial panel should be drawn from the defendant’s own service. I understand that there are differences of opinion on this issue. For example, the former Chief of the General Staff, General Sir Mike Jackson, said in evidence to the Select Committee on this Bill in another place that he would prefer to see a defendant tried by a panel drawn from the defendant’s own service. On the other hand, the Judge Advocate General stated a preference for mixed-composition panels. Officials in the MoD confirm that the default position for cases involving a single service offence is that a panel should be drawn from a defendant’s own service. They also indicate that the MoD will come forward with proposals about situations in which the panel is an appropriate arrangement. I would welcome an update from the Minister on how far these proposals have been developed. This issue is of such importance that something must be in the Bill. In support of this, I quote the recommendation of the Select Committee of another place, which stated at paragraph 86 that, "““there should be a presumption for single service panels unless there is good reason for mixed panels””." I beg to move.