Armed Forces Act 1976

Section 4.

SCHEDULE 2 QARNNS and WRNS

1 For section 54(2) of the [1957 c. 53.] Naval Discipline Act 1957 (officers qualified for appointment as members of courts-martial) there shall be substituted the following subsection:—

“(2) No officer shall be appointed a member of a court-martial except an officer who for a period of not less than 3 years or periods amounting in the aggregate to not less than 3 years has held a commission in any of the armed forces of the Crown or been an officer in Queen Alexandra's Royal Naval Nursing Service or the Women's Royal Naval Service or in any reserve of either of those services.”.

2 The following subsections shall be substituted for section 111(1) and (2) of that Act (which list certain persons subject to it):—

“(1) Every officer on the active list, and every rating, of the Royal Navy, Queen Alexandra's Royal Naval Nursing Service and the Women's Royal Naval Service is subject to this Act at all times.

(2) Any officer on any retired or emergency list of officers of the Royal Navy or of Queen Alexandra's Royal Naval Nursing Service or the Women's Royal Naval Service is subject to this Act when ordered on any duty or service for which such an officer is liable, and is so subject from the time appointed to report or attend (for that purpose until duly released or discharged.”.

3 Section 113(3) of that Act (which prevents women members of Her Majesty's military or air forces attached to Her Majesty's naval forces being subject to the Act) shall cease to have effect.

4 In section 132(5) of that Act (which defines Her Majesty's naval forces) after the words "Royal Navy" there shall be inserted the words " , Queen Alexandra's Royal Naval Nursing Service, the Women's Royal Naval Service, ".