HC Deb 10 March 1978 vol 945 cc796-7W
Mr. Trotter

asked the Secretary of State for Defence, having regard to his decisions to take HMS "Ark Royal" out of service at the end of 1978, whether the ship's Sea King anti-submarine helicopter squadron is to be disbanded; whether the Gannet AEW force is to be disbanded; and how long a delay there will be before the Buccaneer and Phantom squadrons are replaced by new RAF squadrons.

Dr. Gilbert

The Sea King squadron will not be disbanded but the Gannet AEW force will be. The RAF's Buccaneer and Phantom forces are expected to reach full strength about nine months and a year respectively, after HMS "Ark Royal" is taken out of service.