5 Conclusions and recommendations
1. While
we recognise there may be scope to consider committal to a public
bill committee in future, we recommend that select committee scrutiny
continues to be the convention for the Armed Forces Bill, where
the content of the Bill is significant enough to warrant it. (Paragraph
3)
2. We
are of the view that military service is a sacrifice of a unique
nature, and individuals who undertake to serve their country in
this way should be recognised as having made a special contribution
to British society. (Paragraph 10)
3. In
the interest of inclusivity, we recommend that effort be made
to refer consistently to the "Armed Forces Covenant"
rather than the "Military Covenant". (Paragraph 11)
4. It
was apparent to all of us that the work of the External Reference
Group has been highly valuable. Our evidence clearly shows that
this Group presents a vital means by which the voluntary sector
can relay key messages from personnel and their families and make
a genuine contribution to policy. It would be a considerable loss
if this Group were disbanded or sidelined as a result of this
legislation. It is essential that this important forum continues
and we recommend that a change to its terms of reference is made
to give the Group a broader, more permanent role for the future.
(Paragraph 12)
5. We
support the provisions in the Bill in relation to the independence
and powers of Service police. (Paragraph 13)
6. We
support the provisions in the Bill relating to drug and alcohol
testing. (Paragraph 14)
7. We
support the provisions in the Bill which aim to provide greater
independence of Service Complaints Panels, where circumstances
demand. (Paragraph 15)
8. We
recommend that the MoD review the Service complaints procedures
and the powers of the Commissioner in light of her evidence and
her forthcoming Annual Report to ensure that the system is as
effective as it can possibly be. (Paragraph 17)
9. The
Committee felt the matter of a veterans ID card could usefully
be explored further. (Paragraph 19)
10. We
do not advocate any change to existing policy in relation to the
recruitment of under-18s. (Paragraph 20)
11. We
recommend that the MoD give consideration to the matter of Service
personnel being tried in civilian courts, in coordination with
the Director of Public Prosecutions and relevant Government departments
as appropriate. If there is capacity within the Service justice
system, there may be a benefit in transferring the handling of
some cases to the Military Courts where circumstances permit.
There may also be scope for the creation of a power in civilian
courts to remit cases to the Military Courts for sentence. (Paragraph
22)
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