asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the recommendations in the published findings of the board of inquiry into the death of Sergeant Steven Roberts in March 2003, whether changes have now been made in the annual individual training of members of the Armed Forces to ensure that they are aware of the ballistic qualities of high-velocity ballistic plates issued as part of enhanced combat body armour; and [HL1011]

Further to the recommendations in the published findings of the board of inquiry into the death of Sergeant Steven Roberts in March 2003, what steps have been taken to ensure that training establishments and units of the Armed Forces are educated in the importance of issuing to troops correctly fitting enhanced combat body armour. [HL1016]

Service personnel and those manning unit quartermasters' departments are frequently reminded of the need to ensure that that all issued equipment and clothing is correctly fitted, sized and serviceable in order to maintain the operational effectiveness of the individual wearing it, including enhanced combat body armour (ECBA) and other forms of body armour.

All soldiers deploying on operations to Iraq and Afghanistan are provided with ECBA, as a minimum level of protection. As a consequence, all Army personnel will utilise ECBA during the various phases of their pre-operational training, a part of which ensures that soldiers are educated in the ballistic capability of the high-velocity plates as well as the importance of the correct sizing and fitting of ECBA.

In addition, it is mandated that ECBA is worn by all personnel undertaking live fire tactical training exercises. During this training the ballistic capabilities of ECBA and requirement for its correct fitting are again emphasised.