§ Mr. KeyTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many places were available in(a) March 2000 and (b) March 2001 on courses for HM forces on (i) improvised explosive device disposal, (ii) explosive ordnance device driver courses and (iii) biological and chemical munition disposal; and how many (A) applied for, (B) were accepted to and (C) completed each course. [156215]
§ Mr. Spellar[holding answer 30 March 2001]: This type of training is carried out at three Army Training and Recruiting Agency (ATRA) Schools: the Defence Explosive Ordnance Disposal School (DEODS) at Chattenden in Kent, The Army School of Ammunition (ASA) at Kineton, Warwickshire and the Defence School of Transport (DST) at Leconfield, Yorkshire. Biological and chemical munitions disposal is taught as part of other courses at the ASA. Similarly, IEDD training forms part of courses run at both DEODS and ASA. Driver training for EOD Van Drivers is taught at the DST.
Courses run throughout the year and information for courses running at any point during March each year is given in the table.
292W
Course title March 2000 March 2001 Place available ASA EOD (IEDD) Army Courses1 28 28 ASA EOD (IEDD) Joint Service Courses2 0 28 ASA Courses with BCMD content3 18 18 EOD Van Driver 8 8 DEODS courses with IEDD elements 40 44 Places taken ASA EOD (IEDD) Army Courses1 25 30 ASA EOD (IEDD) Joint Service Courses2 0 24 ASA Courses with BCMD content3 18 18 EOD Van Driver 7 8 DEODS courses with IEDD elements 39 39 Successful passes ASA EOD (IEDD) Army Courses1 17 10 ASA EOD (IEDD) Joint Service Courses2 0 4— ASA Courses with BCMD content3 17 15 EPD Van Driver 7 7 DEODS courses with IEDD elements 34 39 1 These courses are four and five weeks in length. Start dates were in February 2000 and January 2001. Places available and taken are those on the course finishing in March. 2 These courses are of similar duration to the Army courses. In 2000, no courses started or finished in March, in 2001 the courses are still under way and will not finish for another week. 3 There are two courses, one four months and one 10 months. Numbers shown are for the courses finishing in March. 4 Not known However, it may be helpful to have the overall position for the training years ending in March 2000 and March 2001, which is given in the table.
Course title 1999–2000 2000–01 Places available ASA EOD (IEDD) (Army) Courses 80 100 ASA EOD (IEDD) Joint Service Courses 80 80 ASA Courses with BCMD content 30 30 EOD Van Driver 80 80 DEODS courses with IEDD elements 288 276 Places taken ASA EOD (IEDD) (Army) Courses 80 90 ASA EOD (IEDD) Joint Service Courses 75 183 ASA Courses with BCMD content 19 26 EOD Van Driver 75 72 DEODS courses with IEDD elements 253 259 Successful passes ASA EOD (IEDD) (Army) Courses 46 62 ASA EOD (IEDD) Joint Service Courses 40 29 ASA Courses with BCMD content 19 26 EOD Van Driver 75 72 DEODS courses with IEDD elements 236 229 1 Two courses ran with additional personnel