Armed Forces Bill

In Committee, I tabled new clause 24 which would have introduced an independent service commissioner and I warmly welcome the amendment, which will achieve that aim. I pay tribute to my right hon. Friend the Member for Islwyn (Mr. Touhig), who piloted the early stages of this Bill and was important in having this amendment tabled. I also wish to pay tribute to the Deepcut and Beyond families and to my hon. Friend the Member for Blackpool, North and Fleetwood (Mrs. Humble) who has campaigned on the issue. In paragraph 12.101, the Blake report spelled out four functions for the commissioner. The second function included the power to recommend further and necessary practical steps. My other question has to do with supervising how the authorities respond to a complaint. In setting out function 3, the review states:"““Where the Commissioner is not satisfied with the outcome, despite the advice tendered, the Commissioner could intervene in the hearing of a complaint at the next level of redress. In an important case, the Commissioner should be able to institute legal proceedings to set aside legally flawed decisions not to prosecute.””" I would welcome the comments of my hon. Friend the Minister in respect of those matters, which are not covered in the amendment.