Wednesday 12th September 2012

(12 years, 2 months ago)

Ministerial Corrections
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Bomb Disposal
Lord Coaker Portrait Vernon Coaker
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To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) on how many occasions ammunition technical officers were called to viable explosive devices in (a) 2008, (b) 2009, (c) 2010, (d) 2011 and (e) 2012;

(2) what the average response time was to bomb incidents by ammunition technical officers in (a) 2009, (b) 2010, (c) 2011 and (d) 2012; and if he will make a statement.
[Official Report, 24 May 2012, Vol. 545, c. 828-29W.]
Letter of correction from Nick Harvey:
An error has been identified in the written answer given to the hon. Member for Gedling (Vernon Coaker) on 24 May 2012. The answer stated the actual number of viable devices found, rather than the number of call-outs.
The full answer given was as follows:
Nick Harvey Portrait Nick Harvey
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The number of call-outs by ammunition technical officers to viable explosive devices across the United Kingdom is shown in the following table. Viable devices are defined as those which contain the relevant components and are built in a manner which suggests that they would have successfully detonated prior to Explosive Ordnance Device team action. The figures are rounded to the nearest 10.

Number1

2008

50

2009

60

2010

50

2011

120

2012 (at 21 May)

30

1 This table does not show the total number of call-outs by ammunition technical officers—just those to viable devices.





Average response times are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

The correct answer should have been:

Nick Harvey Portrait Nick Harvey
- Hansard - - - Excerpts

The number of call-outs by ammunition technical officers to viable explosive devices across the United Kingdom is shown in the following table. Viable devices are defined as those which contain the relevant components and are built in a manner which suggests that they would have successfully detonated prior to Explosive Ordnance Device team action. The figures are rounded to the nearest 10.

Number1

2008

50

2009

60

2010

40

2011

80

2012 (at 21 May)

20

1 This table does not show the total number of call-outs by ammunition technical officers—just those to viable devices.