§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Defence if the opening of the airport at Mount Pleasant on the Falkland Islands will result in a decrease in the numbers of Harriers, Phantoms and Hercules aircraft, and in the numbers of radar operators, aircraft maintenance ground crew and Royal Air Force Regiment personnel based in the Falklands.
§ Mr. StanleyAs stated in paragraph 448 of the Statement on the Defence Estimates 1984 (Vol. 1), once the airfield is complete it should be possible to reduce the levels of permanently-stationed forces on the islands. It would not be in the public interest to detail our intentions as to the future make-up of the forces defending the islands.
§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Defence what plans Her Majesty's Government have to deploy, for short or long periods, Tornado GR1, Nimrod MR1/2, Buccaneer, Jaguar or Victor/Hercules tanker aircraft to the Falklands.
§ Mr. StanleyAll the aircraft to which the hon. Member refers could be deployed to the Falkland Islands at short notice, if necessary. It would not be in the public interest to detail our reinforcement plans.
§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Defence what the frequency of TriStar and/or VC10 flights will be to the Falklands when Mount Pleasant airport is completed.
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§ Mr. StanleyWe currently expect two or three flights a week to Mount Pleasant airport, depending upon the type of wide-bodied aircraft used and the actual passenger and priority freight requirement.