Written question asked by Kevin McNamara (Labour) on Thursday, 26 April 2001, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 8 May 2001. It was answered by Lord Spellar (Labour) on Tuesday, 8 May 2001 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Ministry of Defence

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the result of the SIM investigation was into the death of Grenadier Guardsman Richard King during exercises at Sennybridge; what correspondence he has had with the families of the deceased soldier; and what time elapsed between the death of Guardsman King and his family being informed of the results of the inquiry. - Includes figures.

Answer: Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the result of the SIM investigation was into the death of Grenadier Guardsman Richard King during exercises at Sennybridge; what correspondence he has had with the families of the deceased soldier; and what time elapsed between the death of Guardsman King and his family being informed of the results of the inquiry. [159546] Mr. Spellar: The investigation by the Royal Military Police special investigation branch into the death of Guardsman King concluded on 29 February 2000. As a result, eight senior non-commissioned officers and two junior non-commissioned officers were reported for neglect of duty. The Army Prosecuting Authority, an organisation similar in role to that of the Crown Prosecution Service and wholly independent of the chain of command, subsequently concluded that there was insufficient prospect of securing a conviction at a court martial to warrant trial. The Secretary of State has had no direct contact with the family of Guardsman King, although officers from Guardsman King's unit have insisted the family and a number of official from the Ministry of Defence have also been in correspondence with them. The associated Army Board of Inquiry was convened on 15 January 2001; it is still on-going and the family will continue to be informed of developments.

Secondary information