§ Mr. Hancockasked the Secretary of State for Defence if trainee divers from the Royal Engineering Diving Establishment at HMS Vernon are still training on the mudflats in Portsmouth; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. FreemanThere are a variety of diving courses which are held at the Royal Engineers Diving Establishment at Portsmouth. These comprise a basic five and a half-week course, a seven and a half-week advanced course and a three-week diving supervisors course. In addition, there are two day diving aptitude tests held for Army personnel who wish to be considered for training to become a qualified Army diver. In order to carry out diving, it is sometimes considered necessary for trainees to cross mudflats at low tide in order to reach the training area. In addition, for all diving training, an element of endurance training in dry suits is necessary. Military diving is an arduous and potentially dangerous activity often carried out in unpleasant conditions. Divers need to be fit, adaptable and determined.
Divers are frequently required to wear dry suits for long periods and to carry out physically demanding tasks while wearing dry suits, both in and out of water. Endurance training in dry suits is a necessary and relevant part of both diver aptitude testing and subsequent diver training. There is no "mud-run" for personnel undergoing diver aptitude testing, but for those undergoing the formal diving training programme endurance training in dry suits is a necessary and relevant part of both diver aptitude testing and subsequent diver training. There is no "mud-run" for personnel undergoing diver aptitude testing, but for those undergoing the formal diving training programme endurance training in dry suits may include training on mud. All endurance training is strictly supervised by fully qualified instructors.