§ Mr. BrazierTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on policy with regard to future use of small arms trainer ranges by HM armed forces. [81776]
§ Mr. Doug HendersonSmall arms trainer ranges have proved a cost-effective way of training servicemen in rifle and, more recently, pistol marksmanship. The Ministry of Defence is considering expanding the role of the trainer ranges to encompass training in the use of a number of other close combat weapons and to improve training realism.
§ Mr. BrazierTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the small arms trainer ranges operational in the United Kingdom prior to the strategic defence review, indicating(a) regular, (b) TA and (c) Cadet Unit numbers catered for at each. [81779]
§ Mr. Doug HendersonSmall arms trainer (SAT) systems are currently operational at the following locations in the United Kingdom:
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Army Location Quantity Chilwell 2 Harrogate 2 Chepstow 1 Bulford 1 Dartmoor 2 Ripon 1 Windsor 1 Preston 2 Tidworth 1 Liss, Hants 1 Chester 1 Catterick 7 Middle Wallop 1 Omagh 3 Londonderry 1 Belfast 2 London 2 Chichester 1 Canterbury 1 Warminster 2 Inverness 2 Shorncliffe 1 Ballykelly 2 Colchester 1 Brawdy 1 Bovington 1 Shropshire 2 Co. Antrim 1 Surrey 1 Larkhill 1 Lydd 1 Lisburn 1 Nuneaton 1 Portadown 1 Arborfield 2 Cumbria 1 Dover 1 Aldershot 2 Ballykinler 1 Sandhurst 1 Holywood 1 Bicester 1 Glencorse 2 Waddington 1
Army Location Quantity Staxton Wold 1 Leeming 1 Coltishall 1 Lossiemouth 1 Wittering 1 Conningsby 1 Brize Norton 1 Buchan 1 Marham 1 Uxbridge 1 Dorset 1 Staffordshire 1 Weathersfield, Essex 1 Bassingbourn 2 Brecon 3 Litchfield 2 Ballymena 1 Winchester 2 Pirbright 2 York 1 Edinburgh 1 Armagh 2
Territorial Army Location Quantity Bordon 1 Truro 1 Bridge of Don 1 Newcastle 1 Sheffield 1 Devises 1 Bury St. Edmunds 1 Newham 1 Exeter 1 Grantham 1 Glasgow 1 Liverpool 1
Royal Air Force Location Quantity High Wycombe 1 Stafford 1 St. Mawgan 1 Boulmer 1 Saxa Vord 1 Kinloss 1 Cottesmore 1 Innsworth 1 Odiham 1 Henlow 1 Brampton 1 Cosford 1 Valley 1 Halton 2 Cranwell 1 Honington 2 Rudloe Manor 1 Benson 1 Lyneham 1 Leuchars 1 244W
Royal Navy/Royal Marines Location Quantity Yeovilton 1 Norton Manor 1 Plymouth 3 Portsmouth 3 Poole 1
Royal Navy/Royal Marines Location Quantity Bickleigh 1 Arbroath 1 Faslane 1 Fareham 1 Lympstone 1 These facilities can be used by local or visiting units (regular, rseve and cadet) and details of specific users are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.