§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many soldiers from what regiments have been(a)killed and (b)injured at the Sennybridge Range in each year since 1990; what safety recommendations were made by the Special Investigation Branch and the Health and Safety Executive on each occasion; and what steps he has taken to ensure these were acted upon. [92783]
§ Dr. MoonieThe number of soldiers killed at the Sennybridge Range since 1990 and their regiments is as follows:
Regiment Year Number of deaths Royal Regiment of Wales 1991 1 Cheshire Regiment 1992 1 Royal Green Jackets 1993 1 Queen's Gurkha Engineers 1995 1 Grenadier Guards 1998 1 A number of agencies may be involved in the investigation of range incidents resulting in death or injury including the Royal Military Police Special Investigation Branch (RMP SIB) and Land Accident Investigation Team (LAIT), who are responsible for liaising with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) as required. Further work is required to identify the number of injuries and any resulting safety recommendations, and I will write to my hon. Friend on these points and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.
Although the RMP SIB would normally attend the scene of a range incident resulting in death or serious injury, they would only carry out an investigation if a criminal offence or negligence is suspected and, in the case of a death, if responsibility for the investigation was 849W ceded by the civilian police. It is not, however, within the remit of RMP SIB to make recommendations about matters of range safety.