Oral Answers to Questions — British Army. – in the House of Commons at on 12 December 1939.
Mr William Robinson
, St Helens
asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that when a court-martial decision is ultimately given on members of His Majesty's Forces who have been detained in custody for an alleged offence pending such decision, no regard or mitigation is given for the period of detention prior to the court-martial; and will he take steps to remedy this state of affairs?
Sir Victor Warrender
, Grantham
It is laid down in the Rules of Procedure that the length of time during which the accused has been in confinement awaiting trial shall be taken into account when the sentence is considered.
Secretary of State was originally the title given to the two officials who conducted the Royal Correspondence under Elizabeth I. Now it is the title held by some of the more important Government Ministers, for example the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.
