§ Mr. KidneyTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what persons are to be disciplined as a result of the events surrounding the death of Army cadet Claire Louise Shore; [124356]
172W(2) what assessment he has made of (a) the report of the Health and Safety Executive and (b) the Army Board of Inquiry into the death of Army cadet Claire Louise Shore; [124354]
(3) if he will ensure that the parents of Army cadet Claire Louise Shore receive a detailed personal de-brief of the Army's Board of Inquiry proceedings. [124355]
§ Mr. SpellarThere has been a thorough investigation into this tragic incident by the Ministry of Defence Police, the Army's Training Accident Investigation Team and the Health and Safety Executive. The evidence from these investigations has been considered by the Crown Prosecution Service and by the Army chain of command and it has been found to be insufficient to support a prosecution under civil or military law, nor do they reveal any grounds for disciplinary action against any individual. They do, however, make criticisms of the organisation of the cadet camp and the training safety procedures. The Army accepts these criticisms and will accept the formal censure to be issued later this month. Action is in hand to improve these procedures.
The Army's Board of Inquiry has not yet been completed. On completion, the Army will be happy to give a copy to Claire Shore's parents and to de-brief them in person.