§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment the Royal Air Force has made of the European staff requirement for the European future large aircraft. [20709]
§ Mr. ArbuthnotWe assess that the European staff requirement for the future large aircraft, as it is currently drafted, satisfies the United Kingdom's minimum technical requirements for a tactical military airlifter. We are currently considering whether our conditions for re-entry to the FLA programme set out by my right hon. and learned Friend the Member for Edinburgh, Pentlands (Mr. Rifkind) on 16 December 1994—Official Report, column 823—have been met.
§ Dr. ClarkTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if it remains his policy to seek to purchase between 40 and 50 future large aircraft. [20694]
§ Mr. ArbuthnotI refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Alyn and Deeside on 11 February this year—Official Report, column 131–32.