Part of Oral Answers to Questions — Defence – in the House of Commons at 2:30 pm on 7 February 2005.
I am sorry that the hon. Gentleman takes that view. The truth of the matter is that these issues are in the hands of an independent prosecuting authority, and decisions are taken objectively in accordance with the law. One thing that I know about Britain's armed forces is that they want to be governed by the rule of law—that is the example that they set to the world. It is right that these matters should be dealt with entirely independently of the political process.