§ 28. Mr. Gordon PrenticeTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is taking to ensure that soldiers in training are able to cope with the exercise regime without damaging their health. [86558]
§ Mr. Doug HendersonThe good health and physical well-being of all Service personnel is a priority for my Department, and personnel undergoing training are no exception.
As far as soldiers are concerned, the Army Training and Recruiting Agency, which is responsible for the initial and skill training of soldiers and officer cadets, takes all possible steps to ensure that both new recruits and trainees are carefully shown how to avoid injury while training. This includes briefing before and after specific training exercises, and a carefully graded introduction to the training regime. The Agency conducts a careful risk assessment and takes steps to ensure that appropriately trained personnel are available at all times to monitor exercises and training to reduce potential risks to a minimum. The details of any injuries that are sustained are the subject of a continuous audit to try to prevent repetition.