Earl of Dalkeithasked the Secretary of State for Defence what ships of the Royal Navy have been involved in operations concerned with the application of sanctions against Rhodesia; and how many aircraft sorties have been flown by ship-based and shore-based aircraft, respectively.
§ Mr. J. P. W. MallalieuH.M. Ships "Eagle", "Ark Royal", and a number of frigates, supported by ships of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary. Carrier-based aircraft flew about 2,300 sorties amounting to about 3,500 flying hours, shore-based aircraft flew about 100 sorties totalling about 900 flying hours. Sorties were also flown by helicopters from other ships but we do not have figures readily available.