Bill. ARRANGEMENT OF CLAUSES. Clause. 1. Short title. 2. Army Act and Air Force Act to be in force for specified times. 3. Prices in respect of billeting. AMENDMENTS OF ARMY AND AIR FORCE ACTS. PART I. AMENDMENTS OF ARMY ACT APPLICABLE ALSO TO THE AIR FORCE ACT. 4. Amendment of s. 24 of Army Act. 5. Amendment of s. 178 of Army Act. 6. Application to Air Force. PART II. AMENDMENTS OF ARMY ACT. 7. Amendment of s. 57A of Army Act. 8. Amendment of s. 83 of the Army Act. 9. Amendment of s. 179 of Army Act. 10. Amendment of s. 190 of Army Act. PART III. AMENDMENTS OF AIR FORCE ACT. 11. Amendment of s. 39A of Air Force Act. 12. Amendment of s. 57A of Air Force Act. 13. Amendment of s. 179A of Air Force Act. SCHEDULE. A BILL ΤΟ Provide, during Twelve Months, for the Discipline A.D. 1927. and Regulation of the Army and Air Force. HEREAS the raising or keeping of a standing army within the United Kingdom in time of peace, unless it be with the consent of Parliament, is against law: 5 And whereas it is adjudged necessary by His Majesty and this present Parliament that a body of land forces should be continued for the safety of the United Kingdom and the defence of the possessions of His Majesty's Crown, and that the whole number of such forces should 10 consist of one hundred and sixty-six thousand five hundred, including those to be employed at the depôts in the United Kingdom for the training of recruits for service at home and abroad, but exclusive of the numbers actually serving within His Majesty's Indian possessions: 15 And whereas under the Air Force (Constitution) Act, 7 & 8 Geo. 5. 1917, His Majesty is entitled to raise and maintain the c. 51. air force, and it is judged necessary that the whole number of such force should consist of thirty-three thousand, including those employed as aforesaid, but 20 exclusive of the numbers serving as aforesaid, and the provisions of the Air Force Act are due to expire at the same dates as the provisions of the Army Act: And whereas it is also judged necessary for the safety of the United Kingdom, and the defence of the 25 possessions of this realm, that a body of Royal Marine forces should be employed in His Majesty's fleet and A.D. 1927. naval service, under the direction of the Lord High Admiral of the United Kingdom, or the Commissioners for executing the office of Lord High Admiral aforesaid: Short title. And whereas the said marine forces may frequently be quartered or be on shore, or sent to do duty or be on 5 board transport ships or vessels, merchant ships or vessels, or other ships or vessels, or they may be under other circumstances in which they will not be subject to the laws relating to the government of His Majesty's forces by sea: 10 And whereas no man can be forejudged of life or limb, or subjected in time of peace to any kind of punishment within this realm, by martial law, or in any other manner than by the judgment of his peers and according to the known and established laws of this 15 realm; yet, nevertheless, it being requisite, for the retaining all the before-mentioned forces, and other persons subject to military law or to the Air Force Act, in their duty, that an exact discipline be observed and that persons belonging to the said forces who 20 mutiny or stir up sedition, or desert His Majesty's service, or are guilty of crimes and offences to the prejudice of good order and military or air force discipline, be brought to a more exemplary and speedy punishment than the usual forms of the law will allow : And whereas the Army Act and the Air Force Act will expire in the year one thousand nine hundred and twenty-seven on the following days : 25 (a) In Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, (b) Elsewhere, whether within or without His Be it therefore enacted by the King's most Excellent 35 1. This Act may be cited as the Army and Air Force 40 (Annual) Act, 1927. 5 10 15 2. (1) The Army Act and the Air Force Act shall A.D. 1927. be and remain in force during the periods hereinafter mentioned, and no longer, unless otherwise provided by Army Act Parliament (that is to say) : and Air Force Act times. (a) Within Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel to be in (b) Elsewhere, whether within or without His (2) The Army Act and the Air Force Act, while in force, shall apply to persons subject to military law or to the Air Force Act, as the case may be, whether within or 20 without His Majesty's dominions. (3) A person subject to military law or to the Air Force Act shall not be exempted from the provisions of the Army Act or Air Force Act by reason only that the number of the forces for the time being in the service of 25 His Majesty, exclusive of the marine forces, is either greater or less than the numbers herein before mentioned. 3. There shall be paid to the keeper of a victualling Prices in house for the accommodation provided by him in respect of pursuance of the Army Act or the Air Force Act the billeting. 30 prices specified in the Schedule to this Act. 35 AMENDMENTS OF ARMY AND AIR FORCE ACTS. PART 1. AMENDMENTS OF ARMY ACT APPLICABLE ALSO TO 4. In paragraph (1) of section twenty-four of the Amendment Army Act (which relates to the making away with of s. 24 of equipments, &c.), after the words "he has charge" there Army Act. shall be inserted the words "or any public property |