§ Mr. FoulkesTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his Department's estimate of the total number of EH 101 Merlin anti-submarine warfare helicopters required to provide each of the Royal Navy's aircraft carriers with sufficient aircraft; and what plans he has to order a second batch of EH101s.
§ Mr. AitkenIt is not our policy to discuss numbers of aircraft deployed on individual ships. The 44 Merlin EH101 anti-submarine warfare helicopters ordered in 1991 will enable us to set up training squadrons and introduce the first squadrons of aircraft into service with type 23 frigates and one carrier. No decision has yet been taken on the size or timing of a second order.