§ 16. Mr. David Kidney (Stafford)If he will make a statement on Britain's current military heavy lift capability. [41311]
§ The Minister for the Armed Forces (Dr. John Reid)Our strategic lift requirement, in terms both of airlift and sealift, has been scrutinised closely in the strategic defence review. Of course, that scrutiny has been informed by my Department's assessment of the adequacy of our currently available assets.
§ Mr. KidneyI thank my hon. Friend for that answer. Does he agree that there has been inadequate investment in heavy lift capability in the past and that there is therefore a need for early investment? Although RAF Stafford does not have a runway, would not such an investment lead to an all-round improvement in what is already an excellent logistical support service by the RAF?
§ Dr. ReidMy hon. Friend is right to say that past investment has been inadequate. Investment is now more important than ever because we live in an even more volatile and less predictable world, where power projection and our ability to react quickly and reach throughout the world are more important than ever. In short, we can no longer expect—as we could during the cold war in central Germany—the crisis to come to us. More and more often, we have to go to the crisis. 595 Therefore, there is an even greater premium on the capacity to lift our forces and the weaponry that they need, whether by sea or by air.