Mr. Wigginsasked the Secretary of State for Defence what savings will accrue from the proposal in the White Paper, Command Paper No. 5976, to reduce the Nimrod force by a quarter.
§ Mr. JohnI would refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Tynemouth (Mr. Trotter) on 1st July.—[Vol. 894, c.376.]
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§ Mr. Trotterasked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current number of aircraft owned by the RAF, Royal Navy and Army; how many of the total are helicopters; and how these figures compare with those for 5, 10, 15 and 20 years ago.
§ Mr. William RodgersThe information is set out below:
Year Fixed Wing Aircraft Helicopters Aircraft Total 1955* … 9,300 100 9,400 1960* … 4,540 260 4,800 1965 … 3,580 640 4,220 1970 … 2,570 930 3,500 1975 … 1,940 940 2,880 * Minimum figures. Exact figures not readily available.
§ Mr. Critchleyasked the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to find a European aircraft to replace eventually the F I 00s and F105s presently in service with some allied air forces.
§ Mr. William RodgersWe expect to join in consultations with a number of our European allies about future requirements for combat aircraft and the ways in which these might best be met, taking account of the advantages of common solutions, amongst other factors.