§ Mr. Lathamasked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the number of Royal Army Veterinary Corps personnel currently serving on the Falkland Islands; for how long they have been there; how many Army dogs are under their supervision there; and what is the current nature of their duties.
§ Mr. WigginA Royal Army Veterinary Corps officer has been stationed in the Falkland Islands since July to advise the military commissioner on a number of veterinary matters, including suitable arrangements for the deployment of Army dogs should they be required.
§ Mr. Lathamasked the Secretary of State for Defence whether the dogs already trained at the Royal Army Veterinary Corps, Melton Mowbray, to sniff out 521W Argentine mines in the Falkland Islands have yet been sent there; if not, when they will be; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. WigginA decision on the deployment of dog teams to the Falkland Islands in support of mine clearance operations will depend on the result of trials to evaluate their effectiveness in finding mines under different conditions.