HC Deb 04 November 2003 vol 412 c619W
Mr. Tynan

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the deployment of RAF Griffin aircraft from Cyprus outside Cyprus since 2002 required the mobilisation of sponsored reserve personnel; what cost it entailed; and what mobilisation costs were budgeted when the leasing contract was signed to cover such deployments. [134554]

Mr. Ingram

Griffin helicopters, which are supplied by a contractor but flown by RAF personnel, have been based in Cyprus since April 2003. The aircraft have been deployed once since, in support of a training exercise. There is no contractual requirement for the aircraft to deploy on operations and no requirement for contractor personnel to be sponsored reserves.