To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the evidential basis was for Colonel Baxter’s statement in his Fitness for Role Inspection Report of November 2005 into the Bermuda Regiment that it was readily apparent to the Royal Party that the Regiment were seven minutes late at the ceremony convening the Bermuda Legislature in 2005; and if he will make a statement. (111608)

The Inspection Team had a specific remit to comment on the Bermuda Regiment’s ability to perform the ceremonial duties demanded of it. The timings of and performance on both the rehearsal and the actual parade were therefore accurately noted. The principal members of the Royal Party were HRH the Duke of York and HE the Governor of Bermuda. The landau had to progress slowly and then pause between Government House and the Cabinet Office while the gun salute, delayed while the regiment took up post, was completed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 18 January 2007, Official Report, column 1260W, on the annual personal weapons test, what figures for shooting standards in part-time military organisations in the UK Colonel Baxter used to reach his conclusion in paragraph 9 of the Fitness for Role Inspection Report of November 2005 relating to the Bermuda Regiment that the shooting standards in the regiment were consistent with other part-time military organisations in the UK; and if he will make a statement. (111613)

The Inspection Team put 46 soldiers (11 per cent.) through their annual personal weapons test over the two days of the inspection, without prior notice and without the individual soldiers having a chance to practise. The team had no exact UK figures as comparators but used its collective military judgment and experience as the basis of their comment: “Although low, this pass rate is consistent with other part time organizations in the UK”. The team had some experience of serving with the TA and with the Home Service Part-Time element of the Royal Irish Regiment (and Ulster Defence Regiment before) as well as considerable experience with regular soldiers. It felt that a 70 per cent. “first time” pass rate was probably comparable to (but not quite as good as) that likely to be achieved by part-time British soldiers faced with an equivalent unrehearsed, no-notice test. It also noted that the pass rate would be improved by regular practice.