§ Mr. Ian BruceTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the planned spending on new hangars and facilities to accommodate the Merlin EH101 helicopters at Culdrose; how much money has already been spent; what other plans the Ministry of Defence has to expand helicopter facilities throughout the United Kingdom; and how many helicopters the Ministry of Defence has now and plans to have by 1999.
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§ Mr. HanleyThe cost of new hangars and facilities that would be required to accommodate the Merlin EH101 at Culdrose naval air station is estimated to be between £80,000,000 to £100,000,000, none of which has yet been spent. Helicopter facilities elsewhere in the United Kingdom may change depending on the investment appraisal of the options for a joint helicopter basic flying training centre and decisions on future RAF support helicopters which have yet to be taken. The number of helicopters currently owned by my Department is published annually in the "Statement on the Defence Estimates". The number of helicopters that we will have in 1999 depends on the equipment decisions which have yet to be taken.