§ Mr. Robin F. Cookasked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the cost in the latest most convenient year of the Royal Yacht and of the Queen's Flight; and to what account they were charged.
§ Mr. JohnThe costs of the Royal Yacht and the Queen's Flight in the financial year 1973–74 were of the order of £1.65 million and £1 million respectively. These costs continue to be borne on the defence budget.
§ Mr. Cryerasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Official Report the annual cost of the Queen's Flight and an account of its rôle in defence.
§ Mr. JohnThe annual cost of the Queen's Flight is of the order of £1 million. It is primarily established to provide for the routine official journeys of the Royal Family within the United Kingdom and Europe. It has also been used for many years by the Prime Minister and other senior Ministers, the Chiefs of Staff and distinguished foreign visitors.
Special considerations of flight safety, aircraft safety and physical security apply to the air movement of Her Majesty the Queen, other members of the Royal Family and the non-Royal passengers who use Queen's Flight aircraft. These requirements can best be met by a self-contained specialist Service unit. Apart from the peace-time communication flights carried out for Ministry of Defence passengers, its defence role is to supplement military air transport resources in emergency or war.
§ Mr. Cryerasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will undertake to withdraw the Royal Yacht "Britannia" and 401W the Queen's Flight as a contribution to the reduction in defence expenditure.