That this House does not condone the absence without leave for several years by Nigel Knott but nevertheless recognises that he voluntarily gave himself up in the hope of obtaining a compassionate discharge following the birth of his baby daughter; is astonished at his detention for several months before his trial and outraged at the sentence of twelve months detention; recalls that thousands of soldiers have been discharged under Options for Change; believes that no useful purpose will be served by this brutal and vindictive sentence; and calls upon Ministers to accept representations, so far ignored, that Nigel Knott should be allowed to return to his job, his home and his partner in order to help with the upbringing of his four month old baby daughter instead of sustaining this callous attack on the Knott family.

That this House does not condone the absence without leave for several years by Nigel Knott but nevertheless recognises that he voluntarily gave himself up in the hope of obtaining a compassionate discharge following the birth of his baby daughter; is astonished at his detention for several months before his...