§ Mr. Onslowasked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the cost of the chartering of civilian aircraft for each of the Armed Services in the latest year for which figures are available; what were the main aircraft-types chartered in each case; and how many movements were involved.
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§ Mr. JohnThere are three main civil air charter contracts and four minor contracts. The main contracts cover administrative trooping for the Services to North-West Europe and Berlin, the carriage of personnel and freight to Australia, mainly on behalf of the Procurement Executive, and the movement of Gurkhas and their families within Nepal. The minor contracts meet the support and training requirements of certain Army units.
In the financial year 1974–75 the contract covering North-West Europe and Berlin cost £1.3 million, and approximately 169,000 passengers were carried mainly on Boeing 737s. The contract to Australia cost £571,000, the aircraft used was the Britannia, and 708 passengers and freight were carried. The carriage of Gurkhas and their families cost £44,453, the main aircraft used was the HS 748, and about 7,200 passengers were carried. The four minor contracts cost £35,000, the aircraft types varied with the tasks and included the Sikorsky S61N, Twin Comanche, Gateslear Jet, Cessna 337 and Beagle, and some 300 passengers and freight were carried on support flights.