§ Mr. Wilkinsonasked the Minister of State for Defence whether, in view of the decision to situate the Royal Air Force's Jaguar Operational Conversion Unit at Royal Naval Air Station, Brawdy, his Department will consider the retention of an air-to-ground firing range at Royal Air Force Pembrey for alternate use for operational or meteorological reasons by the aircraft of the Jaguar Operational Conversion Unit.
§ Mr. LambtonNo final decision about the Pembrey Range has yet been taken.
§ Mr. Wilkinsonasked the Minister of State for Defence (1) what will be the future location and rôle of No. 229, Operational Conversion Unit, Royal Air Force, in view of the decision not to order the Jaguar B;
(2) whether he will make a further statement on his plans for the future of Royal Air Force Chivenor as a flying station.
§ Mr. LambtonNo. 229 Operational Conversion Unit, R.A.F., shortly to be re-titled No. 229 Tactical Weapons Unit, is to be moved to Lossiemouth, beginning in August, 1972. The move will be completed by March, 1973, when Chivenor will close. Recent decisions on the Jaguar—a small number of the B version of which will still be required—will not affect these plans and the unit will retain its present rôle.
§ Mr. Wilkinsonasked the Minister of State for Defence whether his Department will examine a simplified and cheaper version of the Jaguar B to meet the Royal Air Force requirement for a new jet trainer for advanced flying training.
§ Mr. LambtonWe shall be prepared to consider any realistic proposals for meeting the R.A.F.'s requirement.