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Written question asked by Kevin McNamara (Labour) on Wednesday, 2 July 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 8 September 2003. It was answered by Ivor Caplin (Labour) on Monday, 8 September 2003 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Ministry of Defence

Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many trainees have been (a) killed and (b) injured in the last 10 years; and in each case what the type of training being undertaken and the cause of injury or death was. - Includes figures and table and fact that comprehensive information on non-fatal injuries not available centrally, and disproportionate cost.
Answer

Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many trainees have been (a) killed and (b) injured in the last 10 years; and in each case what the type of training being undertaken and the cause of injury or death was. [123950] Mr. Caplin: Between 1 January 1993 and 31 December 2002 there were 112 Regular Service trainees killed through fatal injuries. It is not possible to provide individual details for each trainee as this would compromise service personnel confidentiality. Comprehensive information on non-fatal injuries is not held centrally, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The following table provides details of the deaths of the trainees killed as a result of injuries, broken down by cause. Regular armed forces trainee personnel killed due to fatal injuries: 1993-2002 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Cause of death Number killed Training and Exercises-Accidents 10 Firearms 3 Environmental factors (e.g. Excessive heat/cold pressure) 3 Road traffic accidents 1 Drowning 1 Falls, twisting, turning, slipping etc. 2 On-Duty Accidents 10 Road traffic accidents 5 Firearms1 2 Aircraft 2 Parachute 1 Off-Duty Accidents 68 Road traffic accidents 46 Poisoning 6 Hanging, suffocation, strangulation etc. 5 Falls, twisting, turning, slipping etc. 4 Firearms1 2 Drowning 2 Aircraft 1 Machinery and tools 1 Water transport 1 Suicide2 23 Off duty criminal shooting 1 Total killed 112 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. 1 Includes deaths awaiting coroner's verdicts. 2 Defined as coroner's verdicts of suicide and open. Please note that suicide and open verdicts are subject to change as outstanding coroner's verdicts are reported.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
123950; 410 c2W
Session
2002-03
Subjects
Armed forces Death Accidents Injuries Training
Contains statistics
Yes
Link
View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk