The Royal Tournament (Hansard, 7 October 1998)

§ Lord Hoyle
My Lords, we have concluded that the Royal Tournament in its current form will end on a high note in 1999 but that a flagship Armed Forces event will continue in the future. For the year 2000, this will be a special occasion to mark the services' contribution to the millennium celebrations. The nature of events for 2001 and beyond will be the subject of further work on timing, location and format.

§ Lord Chalfont
My Lords, I thank the Minister for that Answer. Perhaps I may declare an indirect interest in that I wrote the history of the Royal Tournament in its centenary year. Is the Minister aware that the event has been held for the past 120 years and that it celebrates, as was originally intended, the skill at arms 437 of the Armed Forces? It has since passed into the tradition of all three services. Can he assure the House that after the year 2000 the Royal Tournament will continue to celebrate those skills and traditions and will not become just another trendy event?

§ Lord Hoyle
My Lords, I congratulate the noble Lord on writing the history of the tournament. Indeed, I know the high regard in which it is held. The truth is that finances and attendances have shown a steady decline. I assure the noble Lord that this is not an end but a new beginning. Consultations are taking place and there is every indication that there will be a part for pageantry and a part for the traditions of the services. We aim to have a high-tech event which represents the work of the Armed Forces and, which, we hope, will appeal not to a declining, but to an expanding, audience which includes those who desire to become recruits to the services.

§ Lord Burnham
My Lords, is the Minister aware that I much enjoyed the hospitality which I received at the Royal Tournament this year when it was very noticeable that there was a large number of fighter aircraft hanging from the roof? Has he read today's Evening Standard which seems to believe that those are the only aircraft in the Royal Air Force? Can he comment on that story and on whether the RAF is as badly off as it seems?

§ Lord Hoyle
My Lords, that question is far removed from the Question I am asked, so I shall not comment upon it or the suggestion that there is a shortage of aircraft. We should be saying that the Royal Air Force provides service that is admired by people not only in this country but all over the world.

§ Lord Monro of Langholm
My Lords, I thank the Minister for his reply and speak for the reserves. Will he bear in mind the position of the reserves at the Royal Tournament—the Royal Naval Reserve, the Territorial Army and the Royal Auxiliary Air Force—and assure us that they will be in a prominent position in 2001, if there are any left by then?

§ Lord Hoyle
My Lords, discussions will continue. There will be a Royal Tournament next year and afterwards a special event for the millennium. The tournament will then combine what is modern in the forces but will also take into account the previous pageantry and ceremonial events.

§ Lord Craig of Radley
My Lords, on more than one occasion I have been involved in reviewing the need for a Royal Tournament and have always arrived at the view that it provided not only excellent publicity for the three services but also support for the benevolent funds which derive considerable sums of money from it. Does the Minister agree that his inability to confirm that there will be a Royal Tournament beyond the year 2000 leaves everyone concerned about this good form of publicity for the Armed Forces, which is much better than what appears in today's Evening Standard?

§ Lord Hoyle
My Lords, I take into account the concerns expressed. We have no intention of not having 438 an event. We want an event that is modern and retains all that is best. I hope that the charities will discuss the matter with the MoD because I appreciate that they have benefited from it. We are not aiming to end the tournament but to give it a new beginning which will attract a very wide audience.