§ Mr. WrayTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the circumstances of the withdrawal from use of the Royal Air Force Phantom serial number XV591 during 1987.
§ Mr. Neubert[holding answer 16 January 1989]: During routine servicing, a serious defect was discovered in this aircraft. It was decided that, since the Phantom FG1 fleet is soon to be withdrawn from service, this aircraft was beyond economical repair.