§ Mr. Soamesasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he is satisfied with the performance of the Tornado aircraft; and if he will make a statement on the recent loss of this aeroplane.
§ Mr. PattieI am well satisfied with the performance of the Tornado. A Royal Air Force Tornado was lost off the east coast on 28 October on a routine training flight. I much regret that the pilot was killed. The accident is the subject of a full inquiry; but to date no evidence of any failure of the aircraft's systems has been revealed.