HC Deb 06 March 2002 vol 381 c325W
Mr. Hancock

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans there are to improve the(a) airlift and (b) sealift capability of the Armed Forces; and if he will make a statement. [40615]

Mr. Ingram

We have already improved our strategic airlift and sealift capabilities in the short term, by leasing four C-17 aircraft, which provide a new outsized airlift capability, and by introducing the provisional strategic sealift service, so that there are now three rather than two ships available for this task. In the medium to longer term, we are in the process of procuring a PFI strategic sealift service (which will ensure that the MOD can call upon six roll on/roll off vessels when required, with four permanently available), and 25 A400M aircraft.