Mr. O'NeillTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence why eight crew members of HMS Argonaut were flown to the Thunder and Colt balloon factory in Oswestry on Monday 9 November.
§ Mr. FreemanCrew members from HMS Argonaut were flown in the ship's Lynx helicopter to the Thunder and Colt balloon factory, Oswestry, at the invitation of Per Lindstrand in recognition of the part the helicopter played in the rescue of Mr. Lindstrand following his transatlantic balloon flight in July of this year. The visit was made during a navigational training flight which included three hours instrument flying and three radar let downs. This flight was a pre-requisite for a pilot's instrument rating lost and so no extra cost fell upon public funds.
Mr. O'NeillTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the cost of flying a Lynx helicopter to the Thunder and Colt balloon factory in Oswestry on Monday 9 November.
§ Mr. FreemanThe cost of flying the Lynx from Portland to Oswestry and back was £4,476. As the flight was, however, carried out as part of the air crew's training programme, there was no extra cost to public funds.