§ Mr. Trotterasked the Secretary of State for Defence how many of the Army's vehicles are aged more than (a) 10 years, (b) 15 years and (c) 20 years; and what is the age of the oldest vehicle.
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§ Mr. Robert C. BrownIn January 1977 the total numbers of Army vehicles aged more than 10, 15 and 20 years were 26,625, 9,108 and 4,890 respectively. These totals exclude mobile equipments, on which statistics are not readily available, and are cumulative. The oldest vehicle is a 10-ton crawler-mounted crane which entered service during the 1941–42 financial year. The age of vehicles does not necessarily provide any clear guide to their condition or reliability.
§ Mr. Onslowasked the Secretary of State for Defence how many military vehicles were destroyed or seriously damaged in accidents during the period covered by the Defence White Paper 1977, Command Paper No. 6735; what was the total cost of repair or replacement; and how these figures compare with the situation in each of the three previous years.
§ Mr. Robert C. BrownThe information is not available in the form requested. I will write to the hon. Member.