Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to improve safety training and procedures for operating Challenger 2 tanks.

Following the tragic incident at Castlemartin ranges in 2017, the Army has implemented changes to the procedures and documentation for firing the main armament of Challenger 2, and engaged with industry to adjust the main armament's mechanical infrastructure. It is also in the process of considering and implementing the recommendations from both the Defence Safety Authority's (DSA) Service Inquiry and Coroner's Inquest. The DSA's Service Inquiry can be found at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/service-inquiry-report-into-the-challenger-2-incident-at-castlemartin-ranges-pembrokeshire-on-14-june-2017