§ 13. Mr. Hastingsasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he remains satisfied with the position over spare parts for both Army and RAF units in BAOR.
§ The Minister of State, Ministry of Defence (Dr. John Gilbert)In general, yes, Sir.
§ Mr. HastingsIs the Minister aware that I have eloquent testimony from BAOR as to the complacency of that reply? Can the Minister confirm that vehicles are often off the road for months because of the lack of spares and that plant machines have to wait as much as two years for lack of spares? Is the Minister aware of the unserviceability of large stocks of vehicles that are held for the TAVR, that only some of them are ever used, and those that are soon go off the road? If the Minister does not believe me, will he pay a visit to REME workshops and vehicle parks and see for himself?
§ Dr. GilbertI am planning to go to BAOR before long. I have invited the hon. Member to give me details about the shortages, and I shall be happy to look into any specific information that he gives me. All BAOR training programmes for this year and next will be maintained.
§ Mr. WigginWill the Minister make a statement on helicopter spare parts, most of which, happily, are made in my constituency, but some of which—we read—may be made in unknown places in the world?
§ Dr. GilbertI do not know whether I ought to make a statement, but there is no concern about spares for the Wessex helicopter and the Sea King. On the Sioux, the situation is cloudy and we are having it investigated. My advice is that there is no need for any of the planes that are used by the Armed Forces to be grounded.