Armed Forces: Training

Defence written question – answered at on 14 November 2011.

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Photo of Mike Hancock Mike Hancock Liberal Democrat, Portsmouth South

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what training his Department provides to military personnel on responding to emergencies and natural disasters; and how many such emergencies and natural disasters have been responded to since 2008.

Photo of Nick Harvey Nick Harvey The Minister of State, Ministry of Defence

Those elements of the armed forces which provide specialist capabilities to the civil authorities are regularly trained and exercised for their role. These include Royal Navy ships, explosive ordnance disposal, search and rescue teams, and counter-terrorist forces.

Other elements of the armed forces will not be involved routinely in responding to emergencies or natural disasters, although they may be called upon to support the lead responders in particularly difficult circumstances. They would be provided with such training as was necessary prior to any such deployment. Defence also takes part in the UK national exercise programme in order to exercise its role in support of the civil authorities. The military chain of command in the regions of the UK also conducts regular training, education and exercising on the nature of military operations in the UK to ensure that staffs are prepared to command Defence support to civil-led operations at short notice if required.

It is difficult precisely to categorise what constitutes an emergency or natural disaster in terms of nature, impact and geographical extent. This answer assumes a definition of crises where a number of lives are at risk, in one or more locations. Since January 2008, the Ministry of Defence has responded to approximately 14 emergencies and natural disasters overseas and nine in the UK. These include a wide range of activities from humanitarian assistance following hurricanes and tropical storms overseas to the provision of assistance to the civil authorities during severe weather in the UK. It does not include the routine provision of search and rescue or explosive ordnance disposal in the UK, nor does it include wider Defence operations such as operations in and around Libya.

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