§ Mr. William Powellasked the Secretary of State for Defence what changes are contemplated in the short-range air defence of Royal Air Force airfields in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. StanleyWe are intending to make a significant increase in the number of Rapier fire units deployed at RAF stations in the United Kingdom. By deploying existing RAF manpower and using Rapier fire units from the RAF repair pool, we plan by the early 1990s to achieve a 50 per cent. increase in the number of Rapier fire units being used to protect United Kingdom RAF stations. This will be a further useful improvement in the United Kingdom's air defences.