§ 18. Mr. Eldon Griffithsasked the Secretary of State for Defence if, in the light of paragraphs 430 and 431 of the defence Estimates, he will make a further statement on the Anglo-German weapons convention unit to be established at Royal Air Force Honington in Suffolk, giving such estimates as are available to him on the types and numbers of aircraft and weapons and the numbers of Royal Air Force, German Air Force and German Navy personnel he expects from time to time to be stationed there.
§ Dr. GilbertThe establishment of an Anglo-German weapons conversion unit at RAF Honington for the Tornado is dependent on the successful conclusion of negotiations with the German Air Force and German Navy on financial arrangements. Many details are still to be settled, but at present we envisage that the unit will consist of some 30 Tornado GR1, split about 50: 50 between the United Kingdom and the Federal Republic of Germany, and about 500 personnel, the great majority of whom would be British. Final decisions have yet to be taken on the types of practice weapons to be used. It is not expected that the establishment of this unit will lead to any significant increase either in low flying or in range use.