Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to ensure the safety of recruits undertaking physical training courses.

We take our duty of care to our personnel very seriously, but risk is inherent in many activities carried out by the Armed Forces. This risk is rendered as low as reasonably practicable during training by ensuring that its design and delivery are subject to strict safety procedures and rigorous risk analysis. Training programmes are also subject to internal or external assurance and audit inspections including by OFSTED.

On 1 April 2015, we established the Defence Safety Authority which brings together the Defence Safety Regulators and the Accident Investigation Branch, providing independent assurance to the Secretary of State in accordance with his health, safety and environmental policy statement.