§ Mr. LoughtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many serving members of Her Majesty's armed forces are qualified in landmine clearance; and what was the corresponding figure in 1994. [74206]
§ Mr. SpellarThere are presently 8,666 personnel trained as combat engineers in the army, 1,100 officers and 7,566 soldiers, of whom 413 are trained in explosive ordnance disposal, which encompasses landmine clearance. The information on these numbers for 1994 is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, it is unlikely to differ significantly from the current figures.