§ Mr. Easthamasked the Secretary of State for Defence, in the light of the Minister of State's recent statement relative to the high costs of flying Hercules aircraft from Ascension Island to the Falkland Islands, if he will now consider the purchase of the British Aircraft Corporation Coastguarder type aircraft to operate from Port Stanley for maritime reconnaissance and early warning operations.
§ Mr. PattieNo. My hon. Friend's recent replies—[Vol. 32, c.157, 364]—about the costs of Hercules operations related to flights in the transport role. These would not be affected by the introduction of Coastguarder type aircraft in other roles.