HL Deb 21 May 1969 vol 302 cc458-60WA
LORD TREFGARNE

asked Her Majesty's Government:

  1. (i) How many Chipmunk aircraft are at present in service with the Armed Forces, or in store and available if required?
  2. (ii) When, or between what dates, these aircraft were acquired or put into service?
  3. (iii) When they expect to have to replace these aircraft, and with what?
  4. (iv) How many of the chosen replacements they will require?

THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDERSECRETARY OF STATE FOR DEFENCE, R.A.F. (LORD WINTER-BOTTOM)

Answers to the questions asked are as follows:

  1. (i) 294 Chipmunks are available, of which 236 are in service.
  2. (ii) They were acquired between 1949 and 1963.
  3. (iii) We expect the Chipmunk to last for some years yet, and it is premature to forecast how, and in what numbers, it may eventually be replaced.

LORD TREFGARNE

asked Her Majesty's Government:

  1. (i) How many of each of the following types of aircraft are at present in service with the Royal Air Force and Royal Navy:
    • Beagle Basset,
    • Hawker-Siddeley Dove (or Devon),
    • Percival Pembroke,
    • Percival Prince?
  2. (ii) The approximate dates on which they expect to withdraw each of the above types from service.
  3. (iii) What type or types of aircraft they propose to acquire as replacements for the Dove, Devon, Pembroke and Prince?

LORD WINTERBOTTOM

Answers to the questions asked are as follows:

  1. (i)
    • Basset, 20.
    • Devon and Sea Devon, 23.
    • Pembroke, 22.
    • Sea Prince, 15.
  2. (ii) We have no plans to withdraw any of these aircraft types. We expect them to remain in service for a number of years, and it would be premature to consider the question of replacement at this stage.

LORD TREFGARNE

asked Her Majesty's Government:

  1. (i) How many Shackleton aircraft are at present in service with the Royal Air Force?
  2. (ii) How many Nimrod aircraft are in service, or on order?
    3. 460
  3. (iii) When they expect the Shackle-ton to be finally withdrawn from service?

LORD WINTERBOTTOM

Answers to the questions asked are as follows:

  1. (i) It is not the practice to publish information about numbers of operational aircraft in service.
  2. (ii) No Nimrods are yet in service; 38 are on order to replace the Shackletons.
  3. (iii) Shackletons will be withdrawn as Nimrods are introduced. We expect the last to be withdrawn during 1971.

House adjourned at twenty minutes past nine o'clock.