§ Mr. John SmithTo ask the Prime Minister if the Government have taken a decision on future provision for long-range royal and ministerial air travel. [44087]
§ The Prime MinisterAfter 36 years' service the VC I Os were withdrawn from their ministerial transport role at the end of 2001. The royal family had ceased using the VC10 nine years ago. The Government considered a number of options for future long-range royal and ministerial air travel. These included chartering commercial aircraft, adapting an existing RAF aircraft, and procuring a new aircraft.
The Government have decided that when a dedicated aircraft is needed it will charter a commercial aircraft. In line with current practice, any accompanying business-people or press will usually be asked to pay their share of costs. Where there are security concerns RAF planes will be used. We assess that this approach is likely to be the most cost-effective. In many cases a dedicated aircraft is not necessary and Ministers and members of the royal family will continue to travel on scheduled flights.
1197WFor the longer-term the Ministry of Defence will consider whether cost-effective provision of royal and ministerial air transport might be incorporated within the contract for the RAF's future strategic tanker aircraft, due to enter service towards the end of this decade.