HC Deb 26 January 2004 vol 417 cc68-9W
Mr. McNamara

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what special training has been provided for the Special Investigation Branch of the Royal Military Police on the implications of the coming into force of the Human Rights Act. [149661]

Mr. Ingram

Special training on changes to Special Investigation Branch (SIB) policies and procedures consequent upon the introduction of the Human Rights Act 1998 has been provided to all SIB units.

Mr. McNamara

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what measures he has taken to guarantee the(a) effectiveness and (b) independence of investigation of suspicious deaths among Service personnel occurring overseas as required by Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights. [149662]

Mr. Ingram

The rules governing investigation of suspicious deaths of Service personnel outside the United Kingdom are detailed in the Queens Regulations for each Service. The Investigations Branch of the relevant Service Police conducts investigations, where appropriate, in conjunction with the local civilian police force. All cases of sudden death are investigated to Home Office standards using accepted best practice.

Where the body is returned to the United Kingdom, it automatically becomes subject to an inquest by HM Coroner or (in Scotland) the Procurator Fiscal.

Full account is taken of our obligations under ECHR.