HC Deb 16 June 1976 vol 913 cc183-4W
Mr. Kilroy-Silk

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if any medical advice has been taken as to the possible psychiatric damage to volunteers for interrogation resistance;

(2) if any of the volunteers for interrogation resistance have suffered medical or psychological damage; and, if so, how many.

Mr. William Rodgers

Training in resistance to interrogation is carried out under close supervision, including the attendance of medical officers. Over the last 16 years no case has come to light where this training has been shown to have permanent ill effects, despite the fact that all Service personnel have regular medical examinations and a thorough

1972 1973 1974 1975 1976
Number of persons attending—
Winter Survival School, Bad Kohlgrub, Bavaria, West Germany 131 143 147 144 144
Royal Norwegian Air Force, NATO Aircrew Officers Winter Survival Course, Staatinol, Norway 24 24 18 18 18
RCAF Arctic Survival Course Edmonton, Canada 1
155 167 166 162 162
Number of days per member of the Armed Forces per annum 0.017 0.022 0.040 0.040 0.022

Some instruction in the techniques of winter survival is also included in more general training—e.g., at the Joint

examination before finally leaving the Service.

Mr. Kilroy-Silk

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many Service men have volunteered for interrogation resistance training at the Service Intelligence Unit in each of the last five years.

Mr. William Rodgers

The number of Service men voluntarily taking part in training in resistance to interrogation during recent years has been as follows:

1972 143
1973 319
1974 248
1975 169

I regret that figures prior to 1972 are not readily available.