asked the Minister for Defence in what circumstances courts-martial are held in secret; and if, in view of the recent public concern about justice being seen to be done, he will review the procedure under which courts-martial are held so that the press is informed of the date and time of any court-martial.
Written Answers. - Courts-Martial.
306.
The Defence Act, 1954, provides that courts-martial shall be public and to the extent that accommodation permits, the public shall be admitted to the trial except where the convening authority or the president of a court-martial considers it expedient in the interests of public safety, defence or public morals that the public should be excluded during the whole or any part of a trial.
It is the practice to make details of the location, date and time of courts-martial available to members of the press on inquiry to the Army Press Office.