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Army Training (Kenya)
Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will (a) list the dates of British Army training exercises in Kenya during the past 12 months and (b) make a statement on the training undertaken during each of these deployments. [49308]
Mr. Ingram [holding answer 16 April 2002]: Details of British Army training exercises that have taken place in Kenya during the past 12 months are as follows:
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Roll On/Roll Off Vessels
Mr. Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) when he expects to sign the contract with AWSR Shipping Ltd. for the provision of roll on/roll off ferries under the PFI; [50884]
(2) what assumption was made by his Department regarding (a) the provision of financial guarantees and (b) the ability of the preferred bidder to sign contracts by a specified date for the roll on/roll off ferries; [50886]
(3) what representations were made to his Department by (a) the Scottish Office, (b) the Scottish Executive, (c) the Northern Ireland Office and (d) One NE prior to the awarding of the roll on/roll off contracts; [50894]
(4) what the evaluation criteria were in the selection of the preferred bidder for the roll on/roll offs; [50890]
(5) what are the reasons for the delay in completion of the contract with AWSR for the roll on/roll off ferries. [50885]
Dr. Moonie: Bids were assessed against the criteria of best value for money, having regard to price, delivery and quality. Tenderers were required to produce financial evidence of guarantees or other financing arrangements that underwrote their ability to sign a contract in a timely manner. Government Departments and regional and industrial bodies with a legitimate interest in the strategic sealift service competition were consulted at all stages. The complexity of the transaction has extended the negotiations but all major questions have been resolved and we foresee no significant obstacle to early signature.
Mr. Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) when he expects to transfer to AWSR Ltd. responsibilities for the two roll-on, roll-offs being built by Harland and Wolff; [50892]
- (2) what period of notice will be given to the supplier of the roll-on roll-offs for the use of each of them; [50893]
(3) whether the Government's assumption from AWSR Ltd. of responsibility for purchase of the two roll-on roll-offs being built by Harland and Wolff counts towards the PSBR. [50891]
Dr. Moonie: On completion of the two ships being built by Harland and Wolff, due this financial year, AWSR will reimburse the Ministry of Defence and assume ownership. The overall effect on the Government's finances is therefore neutral. The period of notice for the six ships forming the strategic sealift service will be:
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| Ships | Notice |
|---|---|
| 1 | 5 days |
| 3 | 10 days |
| 1 | 20 days |
| 1 | 30 days |
Mr. Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the Department's contract for Ro-Ro ferries has been signed; and if he will make a statement. [51134]
Dr. Moonie: We foresee no significant obstacles to early signature. Negotiation of the terms of a 20-year service has inevitably been complex and changes in the commercial shipping environment since the events of 11 September 2001 have had to be factored in. We have, however, at the same time, been able to take advantage of policies developed in recent years as set out in "British Shipping Charting a New Course" and elsewhere.
Private Gray
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what duties Private Gray was deployed in on (a) 16 September 2001 and (b) 17 September 2001; who his immediate superior officer was on that night; and if he will make a statement; [51157]
- (2) what happened to the weapon and ammunition of Private Gray following his death on 17 September 2001 at Deep Cut Camp; and if he will make a statement; [51165]
(3) when Private Gray commenced duty at Deep Cut Army Camp on 16 September 2001; what his schedule of duty was (a) that and (b) the next day; and if he will make a statement; [51153]
(4) what time was Private Gray's body removed from the site of Deep Cut Camp on 17 September 2001; by whom it was removed; to where it was removed; and if he will make a statement; [51161]
(5) what record there is of a civilian staying the night at the officers' mess of Deep Cut Camp over the night of 16 and 17 of September 2001; if he will identify this person; who authorised his entry into the camp and his overnight stay in the officers' mess; and if he will make a statement; [51169]
(6) what ammunition was found to be missing from Private Gray following his death on 17 September 2001; and if he will make a statement; [51151]
(7) what record there is of Private Gray's routine on the evening of the 16 September 2001; when the last time was he logged out on guard duty; when the last time was he logged back in from guard duty having completed a patrol; and if he will make a statement; [51159]
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(8) what time the body of Private Gray was discovered in Deep Cut Camp; where it was discovered; by whom; and if he will make a statement; [51163]
(9) how many rounds of ammunition Private Gray was issued with before going on duty; how many rounds were found in his weapon or on his person following his death on 17 September 2001; and if he will make a statement; [51150]
(10) if he will make a statement on the incident late on the evening of 16 September 2001 close to the officers mess at Deep Cut Camp involving Private Geoff Gray; and what other personnel were involved; [51158]
(11) what the location was of the incident that led to the death of Private Geoff Gray in September 2001 within the Deep Cut Army Camp; where the death took place; and if he will make a statement; [51154]
(12) what the calibre was of the bullets that killed Private Geoff Gray; what search was made to recover the bullets; who conducted the search; if the bullets were recovered; and if he will make a statement; [51170]
(13) what procedures were followed at the start and finish of a round of guard duty at Deep Cut Army Camp on the evening of 16 and the morning of 17 and 18 September 2001; and if he will make a statement; [51152]
(14) what logs were kept of the round of guard duty of Private Gray on the evening of the 16 and the morning of the 17 September 2001 at Deep Cut Camp; who was responsible for the accuracy of the logs; and if he will make a statement; [51160]
(15) how many (a) entry and (b) exit wounds were found on Private Gray's body; where they were; and if he will make a statement; [51156]
(16) at what time shots were first heard on the night of 16 and 17 of September 2001; by whom and where; if reports of these shots were logged; and if he will make a statement. [51164]
Dr. Moonie: These questions collectively concern the circumstances surrounding the death of Private Geoff Gray at the Princess Royal Barracks, Deepcut, on 17 September 2001. Some of the information requested has already been placed in the public domain in the form of witness evidence given at the coroner's inquest into the death of Private Gray, which was held on 19 March 2002. However, jurisdiction for the investigation into this incident was retained by the Surrey Police who will be briefing the family of Private Gray shortly on the circumstances surrounding his death. It would, therefore, be inappropriate for me to comment further at this stage. The evidence will also be considered by an internal Army Board of Inquiry, which will convene on 25 April 2002. The inquiry is likely to take some time. The next of kin will, as a matter of courtesy, be afforded a copy of the final report in due course.
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether there was an MOD inquiry into the death of Private Geoff Gray in September 2001 at Deep Cut Army Camp; and if he will make a statement. [51155]
Dr. Moonie: The Army Board of Inquiry into the death of Private Geoff Gray will convene on 25 April 2002. The purpose of a Board of Inquiry is to establish the facts and ascertain whether any shortcomings in service
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equipment or procedures caused or contributed to the incident leading to a death and, if necessary, make recommendations to prevent a recurrence. Although this is normally an internal investigation and not open to members of the public or the media, the next of kin are afforded a copy of the completed Board of Inquiry report as a matter of courtesy (subject to any minimum security/disclosure requirements). The inquiry is likely to take some time and I cannot, at this stage, say when the board will make its final report.
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on (a) the cause of death, (b) the circumstances and (c) the coroner's verdict on the death of Private Geoff Gray in September 2001 at the Deep Cut Army Camp; and if he will make a statement. [51149]
Dr. Moonie: Private Geoff Gray, Royal Logistic Corps, died from gunshot wounds to the head while on guard duty at the Princess Royal Barracks, Deep Cut, on 17 September 2001. The coroner's inquest was held on 19 March 2002 and recorded an open verdict. Jurisdiction for the investigation into this incident remains with the Surrey police who will be briefing the family of Private Gray shortly on the circumstances surrounding his death. It would, therefore, be inappropriate for me to comment further at this stage.
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