§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Bach)My right honourable friend the Minister of State for Defence (Mr Adam Ingram) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.
On 4 March 2004 the Chief Constable of Surrey Police published his final report following the completion of the investigation into the deaths of Privates Sean Benton. Cheryl James, Geoff Gray and James Collinson at Princess Royal Barracks, Deepcut between 1995 and 2002. At the Chief Constable's request I placed copies of the report in the Libraries of both Houses on the same day.
In conducting background research for their report Surrey Police drew considerably on information provided by the Army. I recognise the interest of right honourable and honourable Members in these cases and am today arranging for a number of documents mentioned specifically in the report to be placed in the Library of the House shortly.
These documents have, where appropriate, been expurgated to remove security-sensitive material and references to third parties.
We continue to give the Chief Constable's recommendations careful consideration. I expect to make a further announcement after the Easter Recess.