Safer training for military must be speeded up – MP
MPS’ recommendations to improve accountability over military training should be introduced early following the death of a soldier in the Brecon Beacons, an MP has insisted.
Josh Hoole, from Ecclefechan, near Lockerbie, Scotland, collapsed and died following a training exercise early on Tuesday as temperatures rose from 17°C to 22°C. It later became the hottest day of the year so far.
His death came just weeks after the Defence Select Committee published a report into fatalities in military training which found the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has not always got the correct balance between adequate training and reducing the risk of death.
It also found that previous deaths could have been avoided if the risk assessment process had been followed correctly.
Jim Shannon, a member of the Defence Select Committee, called on the government to speed up the implementation of the committee’s recommendations.
Addressing Commons leader David Lidington during the weekly business statement, he said: “As the Leader of the House you will know the Defence Select Committee, of which I am a member, has recently made recommendations for training.
“They include the establishment of a Defence Safety Authority, the introduction of a duty holder concept across the armed forces, and the recommendation that the MoD undertake to publicise this widely so that families can have confidence in knowing that when military training may be hard or dangerous that the organisers of that training are known and accountable, and the changes be in place for 2017-2018.
“Will you agree to a ministerial statement on this matter to bring the timescale forward for implementation by the MoD?”
Mr Lidington replied: “I’ll report your concerns to the Minister of the Armed Forces.
“The death of this young soldier on July 19 was a tragedy and I think that the thoughts of everybody in the House, the sympathies of everybody in the House, are with that young man’s family, friends and colleagues at what must be a difficult time for them.
“There is both a civilian police investigation and a service inquiry taking place in to this tragedy and I think it will clearly be wrong for me to speculate about lessons to be learned until we know the outcome of those reports.”
Paying tribute to Mr Hoole, Mr Shannon told the Commons: “The death of the young soldier Joshua Hoole on a training exercise at the Brecon Beacons has raised the issue of welfare for soldiers again.
“This time can I, and indeed this House, convey to his fiancée and family our sincere sympathies?
“He was a soldier of immense courage, bravery, strength and ability.”
Three months ago the Defence Select Committee found that since the start of 2000, 135 military personnel had died while taking part in training and exercises – 89 from the army, 24 from the Royal Navy and Royal Marines, and 22 from the RAF.
Three years ago Lance Corporals Edward Maher and Craig Roberts were pronounced dead on the Brecon Beacons after suffering heatstroke during a 16-mile (26km) SAS test march. Corporal James Dunsby, who was also on the march, died from multiple organ failure in Birmingham’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital more than two weeks later.
A coroner ruled that neglect had played a part in their deaths.
On Wednesday L/Cpl Dunsby’s widow, Bryher Dunsby, said: “I would like to offer my heartfelt condolences and my love to Joshua’s fiancée, family and friends following another tragic death in training at Brecon.
“I sincerely hope that all the inquiries into this incident are conducted promptly, with truth, integrity and total transparency by the MoD.”