Ayr MP Visits Deepcut Barracks

Ayr MP Sandra Osborne has visited the Army Training Regiment at Deepcut and Winchester at the invitation of the MOD in relation to the continuing campaign of a group of Westminster MPs, including Mrs Osborne, for an Independent Public Enquiry to look into the unexplained deaths of a number of young soldiers including Sapper Alfie Manship from Ayr.

The visit was arranged so that the MPs could look at the measures the MOD is taking to ensure there is appropriate supervision, support and welfare provision for the 45000 mainly young recruits who receive their initial training with the Regiment each year.

She said:
'The Commanding Officer is in Loco Parentis of the under 18s and parents are sending their children to the Army in the belief they are in safe hands. It cannot be denied however that everything possible is now being done to make sure that support is in place. We spoke privately to many of the recruits who believed they were being fairly treated and they knew how they could get help if they had any problems. The Army Padre and the women of the WRVS have a strong role in this and appeared very committed to the young people on an individual basis. There is also a confidential advice line and an Army Welfare team which is outwith the chain of command. The Army has also responded by greatly increasing the number of uniformed staff available at NCO level in a supervisory capacity. By their own admission adequate supervision was lacking in the past. This meant for example that at least one young soldier under 17 had unsupervised access to a weapon with live ammunition although this is against the rules.  It also made it more difficult to pick up the signs when young recruits were struggling to cope.  A system in now in place to monitor this and there is better communication with parents.  Very good educational and recreational facilities are also being developed. Substantial Government funding has been put in place to implement the recommendations of various internal MOD reports which have been carried out since the parents who have lost their children started their campaign and we all hope that this will go a long way in making sure that the Army fully lives up to its Duty of Care. Where tragic incidents do occur we were assured that communication with relatives, which in Alfie's case was deplorable, will be carried out in a sensitive and open manner. A career in the Armed Forces is the making of many young people on an individual basis but it has never been more clear the service they may be called to do for their country. They deserve only the best we can give in return.

I greatly welcome the progress that has been made however I am afraid it does not answer the questions of how Alfie Manship and other young people died in inexplicable circumstances and without an Inquest. The Report into the Deepcut deaths by Surrey Police did not put these deaths down to suicide and we still do not know what happened. The campaign for an Independent Inquiry therefore continues.’