§ Mr. Turnerasked the Secretary of State for Defence to what extent the interdepartmental inquiry referred to in paragraph 25 of the First Report from the Estimates Committee, Session 1961–62, has been followed by an increase in the contribution made by Transport Command to trooping and freighting.
§ Mr. H. FraserYes. Transport Command has for a long time carried a proportion of air trooping passengers on its flights along the main routes to the Middle and Far East. Since October, 1962, it has, within its normal training programme, done most of the trooping for the Western Mediterranean. From October next it will similarly undertake all trooping to Cyprus. At that point it will be carrying about 15 per cent. of trooping passengers. It at present carries about four fifths of R.A.F. air freight, and will shortly be carrying rather more including virtually all air freight for the Middle East and Far East.
The possibility of an additional contribution will be reviewed as further increases are made in the strength of Transport Command.