Part ICommand and Raising of Forces

1 Supreme Command

The supreme command and government of the Royal Navy, the Army, and the Royal Air Force is vested in His Majesty King ob2035 and exercised through the Secretary of State for Defence.

2 Annual Continuation

No standing army shall be kept within the Realm in time of peace without the consent of Parliament, and the maintenance of His Majesty’s military forces shall be sanctioned annually by parliamentary vote.

Part IIDiscipline and Service

3 Desertion and Mutiny

(1)Any person subject to service discipline who mutinies or incites another to mutiny shall be guilty of an offence and liable upon conviction by court-martial to imprisonment for life.

(2)Desertion from His Majesty’s forces in the presence of an enemy shall be punishable by imprisonment for life or any shorter term.

4 Soldier’s Pay Deductions

No deduction shall be made from the pay of any soldier, sailor, or airman except under statutory regulation, and every serviceman shall be entitled to receive his minimum subsistence allowance without civil arrest for ordinary debt under £30.

Part IIIGeneral

5 Citation

This Act may be cited as the Armed Forces and Defence Act.