Armed Forces: Training Mr. Harper To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what the key reasons were for his Department’s decision to choose the Metrix consortium’s bid for (a) package 1 and (b) package 2 for the Defence Training Review Rationalisation Programme; and if he will make a statement; (2) what his Department’s criteria were that determined the winning bidders for (a) package 1 and (b) package 2 of the Defence Training Review Rationalisation Programme; and if he will make a statement. Derek Twigg Following a detailed evaluation process for each of the DTR Packages, Metrix were chosen because their separate package 1 and 2 proposals were judged to offer the best technical and prospective value for money solutions to the Defence Training Review requirement for each of those packages. Their solution examined against 65 individual Requirements of Response, represented the most economically advantageous outcome, providing the best combination of technical score relating to the quality, deliverability and timeliness of their proposals, their suitability as a partner and price. Mr. Harper To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proposals his Department is considering for the maintenance of a defence function for the training sites at Cosford and Blandford; and if he will make a statement. Derek Twigg The MOD estate is under continuous review to ensure that it is the right size and quality to support the delivery of Defence capability. Looking to the future both Cosford and Blandford are well placed as highly flexible Defence sites. The Department is looking at options to continue to make the best use of them post the defence training review by moving other units in. This will be subject to studies which will not conclude for some months. Mr. Harper To ask the Secretary of State for Defence by how much the Metrix consortium’s current proposals for (a) package 1 and (b) package 2 for the Defence Training Review Rationalisation Programme has exceeded the planned budget for the programme. Derek Twigg Metrix current proposal for Package 1 does not exceed the planned budget over the life of the project. It delivers significant savings against the planned levels of expenditure. The current proposal for Package 2 has been assessed as not affordable and this package is now being pursued with Metrix as part of a whole programme solution. Until this work is complete it is not possible to judge whether Package 2 can be delivered within the planned budget for the programme. Mr. Harper To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service personnel have died as a result of injuries sustained during training in each year from 2003 to 2006. Derek Twigg The number of UK regular service personnel who died as a result of injuries sustained during training in each year between 2003 and 2006 is given in the following table: --------------------------------------------------- | |Number of deaths| --------------------------------------------------- |2003 |6 | --------------------------------------------------- |2004 |14 | --------------------------------------------------- |2005 |11 | --------------------------------------------------- |2006 |13 | --------------------------------------------------- |1 Data for 2006 are provisional.| | --------------------------------------------------- Mr. Harper To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many training exercises have been cancelled in each year from 2003 to 2006; and what the reasons were for each cancellation. Mr. Ingram During financial year 2003-04, some 350 training events featured on the Defence Exercise Programme (DXP) of which 151 (43 per cent). were cancelled. During financial year 2004-05, a total of 379 training events were scheduled of which 79 (20 per cent.) were cancelled. While specific reasons for cancellation are not available in many cases, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost, the programme was affected by competing operational priorities. Since that time, improved data capture has enabled a more detailed review of the DXP. During financial year 2005-06, a total of 533 training events were scheduled on the DXP of which 58 (10.8 per cent.) were cancelled. In detail, 30 exercises were cancelled due to operational commitments, 13 were removed as savings measures and 10 were cancelled by other nations. The remaining five events were cancelled in response to changing priorities or rescheduling. In financial year 2006-07, a total of 680 training events are scheduled in the DXP of which 60 (8.8 per cent.) have been, or will be, cancelled. In detail, 29 exercises have been cancelled due to operational commitments, five have been removed as savings measures and 15 were cancelled by other nations. The remaining 11 events have been cancelled in response to changing priorities or rescheduling. Details of the military exercises cancelled since 1 April 2005 are as follows. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Exercise name |Location |Type |Reason for cancellation | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Catt 05 |UK |Land |Operational priorities | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Bass Rock |Canada |Land |Cancelled by lead nation | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Pathfinder |Czech Republic |Land |Cancelled by mutual consent: operational commitments | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Lone Kestrel 05 |Poland |Air |Cancelled by lead nation | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Gruflex 05 |Spain |Air |Cancelled by lead nation | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Fwit 05 |Norway |Air |Cancelled by lead nation | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Air Warrior 05-10 px |USA |Air |Cancelled by lead nation | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Smart Search 05 |USA |Air |Cancelled by lead nation | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Lucky Sentinel 05 |Canada |Air |Cancelled by lead nation | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Lone Osprey 05 |Ukraine |Air |Cancelled due insufficient time to resolve Ukrainian requirements | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |JTP 05-5 |UK |Air |Operational commitments | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Cross Check 05 |Canada |Air |Operational commitments | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Baltops 05 |Baltic |Air |Operational commitments | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Trident Door 05 |Mediterranean |Air |Operational commitments | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Wycombe Warrior 05-07 day 1 |UK |Air |Operational commitments | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Wycombe Warrior 05-07 day 2 |UK |Air |Operational commitments | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Cygnet Gold |France |Land |Cancelled due to MOU issues | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Nomad 05 |UK |Air |Cancelled due to withdrawal of three nations | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Snow Leopard 06 |Norway |Air |Operational priorities | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Air Cadre 06-1 |Cyprus |Joint |Revised priorities. | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Flycatcher 05-2 |UK |Joint |Revised priorities. | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Red Corvette 06 |UK |Joint |Revised priorities. | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Fidae 06 |Chile |Air |Operational commitments; | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |1 Div CT5 ex |Poland |Land |Operational commitments | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |3 Div CT5 ex |UK |Land |Operational commitments | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Czech Pineapple |Czech Republic |Land |Operational commitments | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Eagles Resolve |UK |Land |Operational commitments | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Fingals Cave |Canada |Land |Operational commitments | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Iron Anvil 05 |Canada |Air |Operational commitments | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Joint Falcon 06 |UK |Air |Operational commitments | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Kimmons Post |Cyprus |Land |Operational commitments | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Kleiber |France |Land |Operational commitments | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Medoc |UK |Land |Operational commitments | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Quicksand 05 |Africa |Joint |Operational commitments | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Snow Chute 06 |Norway |Air |Operational commitments | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Swordfish 05 |Mediterranean |Air |Operational commitments | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Templar Forge 05-1 |Cyprus |Air |Operational commitments | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Templar Forge 05-2 |Cyprus |Air |Operational commitments | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Templar Forge 05-3 |Cyprus |Air |Operational commitments | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Aswex 05 |UK |Air |Operational commitments | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Eagles Resolve—air |UK |Air |Operational commitments | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Lemon Peel 05-2 |UK |Joint |Operational commitments | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Target Flame 05-3 |Cyprus |Air |Operational priorities (OPEVAL) | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Initial Link 05 |Bahrain |Air |Rescheduled | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Eagles Flight 06 |UK |Air |Rescheduled as Eagles Eye 06 | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Danex |Denmark/North Sea|Maritime|Savings measure | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Druids Dance |UK |Land |Savings measure | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Flotex Silver |Norway |Maritime|Savings measure | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Lone Cheetah 05 |France |Air |Savings measure | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Lone Civet 05 |Europe General |Air |Savings measure | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Lone Eagle 05 |Spain |Air |Savings measure | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Lone Egret 05 |Slovakia |Air |Savings measure | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Lone Feat 05 |Europe General |Air |Savings measure | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Lone Flap 05 |Norway |Air |Savings measure | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Lone Kite 05 |Europe General |Air |Savings measure | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Lone Knot 05 |Europe General |Air |Savings measure | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Medicine Man |BATUS Canada |Land |Savings measure | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Snow Goose 05-2 |Norway |Air |Savings measure | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Anatolian Eagle 06 |Europe |Air |Cancelled by host nation | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Dapex 06 |Europe |Air |Cancelled by host nation | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Fingals Cave 06/07 |Canada |Land |Cancelled by host nation | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Noble Avenger 06 |Europe |Air |Cancelled by host nation | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Airlift Rodeo 06 |North America |Air |Cancelled by lead nation | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Dragons Nest 06 |Europe |Air |Cancelled by lead nation | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Lone Flap 06 |Europe |Air |Cancelled by lead nation | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Triplex Flame 06.1 |Europe |Air |Cancelled by lead nation | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Tunuk Warrior 06/07 |Turkey |Land |Cancelled by lead nation | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Wycombe Warrior 09-06 days 1 and 2 |United Kingdom |Air |Cancelled by NATO | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Cossack Steppe 06/07 |Ukraine |Land |Cancelled due to insufficient time to resolve Ukrainian requirements.| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Express Three 06/07 (Russian Express 06)|Russia |Land |Cancelled due to coordination issues with host nation | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Rainbow Serpent 06/07 |Australia |Land |Ex reduced in scope due to Australian operational commitments | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |1 ACC WTI 06 |North America |Air |Operational commitments | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |AATTC 06-1 |North America |Air |Operational commitments | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Albert's Rapport 06-1 |North America |Air |Operational commitments | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Albert's Rapport 06-2 |North America |Air |Operational commitments | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Algonquin Rock 06-1 |North America |Air |Operational commitments | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Assegai Eyes 06 |United Kingdom |Joint |Operational commitments | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Barbary Air 06-2 |Europe |Air |Operational commitments | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Blue Cypriot |Cyprus |Land |Operational commitments | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Cockfight 2/06 |UK |Joint |Operational commitments | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Combined Strength 06-1 |Europe |Air |Operational commitments | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Czech Pineapple 06 |Czech Rep |Land |Operational commitments | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Eagles Eye 06/07 |UK |Land |Operational commitments | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Etam06 |Europe |Air |Operational commitments | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Flying Rapport 06 |North America |Air |Operational commitments | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Fwit 06 |Europe |Air |Operational commitments | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Gaulish 1 - 06/07 |France/UK |Land |Operational commitments | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Gaulish 2/06 |Not Specified |Land |Operational commitments | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Gaulish 5—06/07 |France/UK |Land |Operational commitments | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Global Gold 07/08 |Kenya |Land |Operational commitments | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |JRTC 06-1 |North America |Air |Operational commitments | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |JTP 2 - 06/07 |UK |Land |Operational commitments | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Lone Foil |Europe |Air |Operational commitments | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |LRIF06-1 |North America |Air |Operational commitments | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Maple Flag 39-3 |North America |Air |Operational commitments | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Night Hawk 2/06 |Denmark |Joint |Operational commitments | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Paper Chase 06/07 |Germany |Land |Operational commitments | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Path Finder 06/07 |Czech Rep |Land |Operational commitments | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Prairie Brave 06/07 |Canada |Land |Operational commitments | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Readiness Challenge 06/07 |USA |Land |Cancelled by Lead Nation | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Solenzara Air Ex 06 |Europe |Air |Operational commitments | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Lone Knot 06 |Europe |Air |Postponed by lead nation | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Aphrodite 06/07 |Cyprus |Land |Revised priorities | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Cyprus Forum 06 |Cyprus |Joint |Revised priorities | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Frozen Star 07 |Norway |Air |Revised priorities | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Heavy Ferry 06/07 |Germany |Land |Revised priorities | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Javelin 06/07 |Nepal |Land |Revised priorities | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Log provider 06 |United Kingdom |Joint |Revised priorities | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Lone Fin 07 |Europe |Air |Revised priorities | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Snow Falcon 07-1 |Europe |Air |Revised priorities | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Spontex 06-1 |Europe |Air |Revised priorities | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Target Flame 06-3 |Europe |Air |Revised priorities | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Wet Gap 06/07 |Germany |Land |Revised priorities | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Grand Prix 1—06/07 |Kenya |Land |Savings measure | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Grand Prix 3—06/07 |Kenya |Land |Savings measure | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Jagged Flame 06-1 |Europe |Air |Savings measure | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Lion Star 1—07/08 |Cyprus |Land |Savings measure | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Rock Challenge |USA |Joint |Savings measure | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mr. Harper To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many training exercises that were originally scheduled for 2007 have been cancelled. Mr. Ingram Of the 547 training exercises recorded in the Defence Exercise Programme for financial year 2007-08, 40 (7.5 per cent.) have been cancelled.