Armed Forces Act 1981

Section 20.

SCHEDULE 3 Women's Services

PART I Statutory Assimilation

Existing enactments

1 (1) Every enactment which refers to the armed forces or the naval, military or air forces of the Crown shall have effect as if the reference included a reference to the women's services of those forces administered by the Defence Council and any enactment containing the words " men ", " soldiers ", " seamen ", " airmen " or other word importing a reference to persons of the male sex only as, or as having been, or as capable of being, members of the naval, military or air forces of the Crown shall have effect as if for such word there had been substituted therein words having a like meaning in other respects but importing a reference to persons of either sex.

(2) Sub-paragraph (1) above applies for the interpretation of references to the reserve or auxiliary forces as it applies for the interpretation of references to the regular forces of the Crown.

(3) Sub-paragraph (1) above does not apply in a case where, or to the extent to which, the enactment refers to the Royal Navy.

(4) Sub-paragraph (1) above does not apply in a case where, or to the extent to which, the enactment refers to the naval, military or air forces of the Crown raised outside the United Kingdom ; but nothing in this sub-paragraph affects the meaning of " visiting force " in the [1933 c. 6.] Visiting Forces (British Commonwealth) Act 1933 or Part I of the [1952 c. 67.] Visiting Forces Act 1952.

(5) This paragraph has effect in place of subsection (1) of section 3 of the [1948 c. 21.] Army and Air Force (Women's Service) Act 1948 (which makes corresponding provision in relation to the military and air forces) and of so much of any other enactment as explains, in relation to the women's services, particular statutory references to the armed forces of the Crown ; but the power to make Orders in Council under subsection (2) of that section shall include power to make the like provision in consequence of the preceding provisions of this paragraph so far as those provisions relate to the naval forces of the Crown.

Future enactments

2 Paragraph 1 above also applies for the interpretation of references in enactments contained in Acts passed after the passing of this Act.

PART II Specific Amendments of Enactments

3 In section 2 of the [1871 c. 36.] Pensions Commutation Act 1871, in the definition of " officer ", for the words " the Army and Navy " there shall be substituted the words " Her Majesty's naval or land forces "and for the word " Navy" there shall be substituted the words " naval forces ".

4 In section 2(b) of the [1884 c. 31.] Colonial Prisoners Removal Act 1884, for the words "the Royal Navy or to Her Majesty's regular military forces " there shall be substituted the words " Her Majesty's regular military or naval farces ".

5 In the [1894 c. 45.] Uniforms Act 1894, the following section shall be substituted for section 4: —

“4 In this Act—

• ' Her Majesty's Military Forces' has the same meaning as in the Army Act 1955 ;

• ' Her Majesty's Naval Forces' has the same meaning as in the Naval Discipline Act 1957.”.

6 In section 4 of the [1917 c. 51.] Air Force (Constitution) Act 1917, for the words " His Majesty's Navy or Army " there shall be substituted the words " the Royal Navy or His Majesty's Army ".

7 In section 5(1) and in the definition of " British ship " in section 10 of the [1939 c. 83.] Pensions (Navy, Army, Air Force and Mercantile Marine) Act 1939, for the words " His Majesty's Navy " (in each place where those words occur) there shall be substituted the words " the Royal Navy ".

8 In section 68(2) of the [1949 c. 76.] Marriage Act 1949, in paragraph (a), for the words following " is serving in " there shall be substituted the words " any of the regular armed forces of the Crown; or " and in paragraph (b) for the word " mentioned " there shall be substituted the word " included ".

9 In section 2(1) of the [1967 c. 32 (N.I.).] Marriage (Registration of Buildings) Act (Northern Ireland) 1967, in paragraph (a) for the words following " is serving in " there shall be substituted the words " any of the regular armed forces of the Crown "and in paragraph (b) for the word " mentioned " there shall be substituted the word " included ".

10 In section 21(5) of the [1976 c. 52.] Armed Forces Act 1976, in the definition of " qualified officers ", for the word " Navy " (in each place where it occurs) there shall be substituted the words " Royal Navy ".

PART III Application to QARNNS and WRNS of Provisions of 1966 Act as to Discharge, Etc

Preliminary

11 (1) The provisions of the [1966 c. 45.] Armed Forces Act 1966 specified in paragraphs 12, 13 and 14 below shall apply to members of and persons offering themselves for service in Queen Alexandra's Royal Naval Nursing Service and the Women's Royal Naval Service in accordance with the provisions of those paragraphs.

(2) In those paragraphs " rating ", in relation to Queen Alexandra's Royal Naval Nursing Service or the Women's Royal Naval Service, means a member of that Service of or below the rate of warrant officer.

Postponement of discharge in event of war, etc.

12 So much of section 4 as relates to discharge shall apply to ratings of Queen Alexandra's Royal Naval Nursing Service or the Women's Royal Naval Service as it applies to ratings of the Royal Navy and accordingly, in its application by virtue of this paragraph, the following provisions shall be omitted, that is to say—

(a) in subsection (1), the words " or would fall to be transferred to the Royal Fleet Reserve " ;

(b) subsection (4);

(c) in subsection (5), the words after " discharged " ;

(d) in subsection (6), the words "or transferred to the Royal Fleet Reserve " and " as the case may require " ; and

(e) subsections (7) and (8).

Discharge

13 Section 6 (except subsection (5)) shall apply to ratings of Queen Alexandra's Royal Naval Nursing Service or the Women's Royal Naval Service as it applies to ratings of the Royal Navy.

False statements on entry

14 Section 8 shall apply to persons offering themselves for service in Queen Alexandra's Royal Naval Nursing Service or the Women's Royal Naval Service as it applies to persons offering themselves for service in the Royal Navy.