§ Mr. Onslowasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will remedy the situation at military rifle ranges used by civilian rifle clubs, where the effect of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act has been that some civilian clubs have been unable to fire on a military range for over a year.
§ Mr. Hayhoe:The Ministry of Defence is required by the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act and other legislation to take steps to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that no person will suffer injury or damage by entering a range or danger area. Civilian rifle clubs must observe safety precautions which are no less stringent than those required by the range standing orders for the use of the range by a Service unit. To do this they may, if space is available, make arrangements to use a range concurrently with a Service unit, but I would not be justified in incurring additional expenditure that might be necessary on some ranges to allow civilian rifle clubs to shoot at other times.