HC Deb 11 March 1980 vol 980 cc488-9W
30. Mr. Hardy

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many pilots there are, and how many combat aircraft are in service and available for the air defence of the United Kingdom; how these figures compare with the position one year ago; and what is his estimate of the numbers which will be available in one year's time.

Mr. Pattie

It is not the practice to reveal numbers of operational aircraft. As regards pilots, details of total numbers available would not be very informative, since such figures would include pilots in training and in other non-operational flying appointments and those who are not currently in active flying appointments at all. I can, however, confirm that the air defence front line is fully manned, and that we intend to keep it so in the future.