56.—(1) A defendant shall be arraigned in preliminary proceedings on each charge brought against him, but need not be arraigned on every charge at the same time.
(2) A defendant shall be required to plead separately to each charge on which he is arraigned.
(3) Where a defendant pleads guilty to a charge, the judge advocate may accept the plea if satisfied that the defendant understands—
(a)the nature of the charge;
(b)the general effect of the plea; and
(c)the difference in procedure following pleas of guilty and not guilty.
(4) Where the judge advocate accepts a plea of guilty to a charge—
(a)the defendant shall stand convicted of the charge; and
(b)unless there is a further charge against him to which he has not pleaded guilty (or as respects which a plea of guilty has not been accepted by the judge advocate), the court administration officer shall appoint a time and place for sentencing proceedings.
(5) Where—
(a)a plea of guilty is not accepted by the judge advocate, or
(b)the defendant does not plead (or does not plead intelligibly) to the charge,
the judge advocate shall record a plea of not guilty.