HC Deb 26 July 1988 vol 138 cc244-5
8. Mr. Buckley

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his estimate of the current proportion of the Royal Air Force's front-line aircraft which are not fully operational.

13. Mr. Soley

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his estimate of the current proportion of Royal Air Force front-line aircraft which are not fully operational.

The Minister of State for the Armed Forces (Mr. Archie Hamilton)

It has been the policy of successive Governments not to provide detailed information about the operational readiness of elements of the armed forces. However, I can assure the hon. Members that all Royal Air Force aircraft assigned to operational duties are fully manned and equipped and thus able to undertake their designated missions.

Mr. Buckley

The Select Committee on Defence has reported that, despite the high cost of the maintenance and repair budget, one third to one half of the front-line defence aircraft are not available. Is that not dangerous and deplorable, and is it not yet another example of the Ministry of Defence procuring expensive equipment and then having to spend large sums of money on repairing and maintaining it?

Mr. Hamilton

I think that the hon. Gentleman is referring to the Tornado aircraft. It is customary to have reserve aircraft, although I accept that the number of Tornado aircraft in reserve is very high. These aircraft are due to be modified at the end of the production run. I expect them to come on stream in the early 1990s.

Mr. Soley

No Opposition Member will be surprised to learn that the Conservatives have consistently refused to give such information, even though it is readily available to research workers at airports around the world. Will he say whether some of the operational failures are due to the lack of Foxhunter radar? Does he intend to return to the bizarre idea of filling the noses of some of the aeroplanes with concrete, with which, presumably, to ram our opponents?

Mr. Hamilton

The hon. Gentleman knows that in 1984–85 the non-availability of Foxhunter radar meant that the programme had to be rescheduled. That is why we are now operating according to the availability of both radar and pilots to fly the aircraft.

Sir Antony Buck

I congratulate my hon. Friend on his front-line appointment and wish him a long and happy tenure in his office.

Will he ensure that pressure is put on the Royal Air Force to make sure that a larger number of aircraft that at all times are operational are in service? Will he keep up pressure to that effect on the Royal Air Force?

Mr. Hamilton

I am grateful to my hon. and learned Friend for his kind remarks.

The intention is that the aircraft should operate at maximum efficiency. That is why we are not prepared to bring the reserve aircraft into service until they have been modified.

Sir Ian Lloyd

The ratio is of great significance, but what is the point of either the Royal Air Force or NATO maintaining a high ratio of operational aircraft if they are unable to communicate with each other in times of war, except through a third party, or if they are unable to be rearmed on the aerodromes of another allied nation or if, because of the current disastrous IFF position, a very large proportion are likely to be shot down by our own forces?

Mr. Hamilton

My hon. Friend confirms the remark that I made, which was that the operational efficiency of those aircraft must be supreme before we are prepared to let them fly.

Mr. Rogers

May I offer my congratulations to the Minister and welcome him back to quiet pastures.

The Defence Select Committee has rightly pointed out on a number of occasions in the past year that the Government's defence procurement programme is a shambles. When will the Government acknowledge that many of our front-line aircraft and other services are unable to meet a threat that may come at any time?

Mr. Hamilton

I thank the hon. Gentleman for his kind remarks.

That is precisely the point that I have been trying to make. In practice, it is very important to ensure that those aircraft maintain operational effectiveness on the front line. That is why aircraft that do not meet that requirement are kept in reserve.