asked Her Majesty's Government:

Arising from the published findings of the board of inquiry into the death of Sergeant Steven Roberts in March 2003, what progress the Headquarters Director Royal Armoured Corps has made in developing doctrinal notes and standard operating procedures for the employment of armoured fighting vehicles at vehicle checkpoints in situations of both warfare and peacekeeping. [HL1206]

Doctrinal notes for the employment of Challenger 2 in vehicle checkpoints, covering both war-fighting and peacekeeping scenarios, were made available to all armoured regiments in December 2006. Doctrinal notes were already in place for Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Tracked) Scimitar/Spartan, Warrior and Fighting Vehicle 430 prior to the related recommendation by the board of inquiry into the death of Sergeant Steven Roberts.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Arising from the published findings of the board of inquiry into the death of Sergeant Steven Roberts in March 2003, what steps have been taken, via the introduction of Bowman or otherwise, to provide personal role radio fully interoperable with the communications systems of armoured fighting vehicles. [HL1207]

The vehicle integrated personal role radio (VIPRR) is at present being rolled out for armoured vehicles in use in Iraq and Afghanistan. Trials on Clansman platforms took place in April and May 2005, and the first deliveries to Operation TELIC were made in June that year. Acceptance trials on Bowman platforms started in January 2006, with the first deliveries to Operation TELIC in August 2006, followed by deliveries to Operation HERRICK in September that year. To date 357 VIPRR kits have been delivered, and a further 278 are scheduled for delivery by May 2007.