HC Deb 11 December 1989 vol 163 c497W
Mr. Macdonald

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 27 November,Official Report, column 99, what categories of aircraft are included under the definition of combat aircraft.

Mr. Waldegrave

The definition proposed on 13 July by allied negotiators for the purpose of the CFE negotiations for combat aircraft is as followsa fixed-wing or swing-wing aircraft permanently land-based of a type initially constructed or later converted to drop bombs, deliver air-to-air or air-to-surface missiles, fire guns/cannons, or employ any other weapons of destruction. Any permanently land-based version or variant of these aircraft which has been modified to perform another military function is also included. An aircraft type should not, however, be included unless a combat variant of the type concerned exists within the ATTU area in the armed forces of a member state of the same treaty of alliance to which the participating state owning the aircraft belongs.

Mr. Macdonald

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what additional categories of aircraft have been included in the overall figure for combat aircraft given in theOfficial Report, 27 November, column 99, additional to those given in "Conventional Forces in Europe: The Facts".

Mr. Waldegrave

Those of aircraft in storage, together with versions and variants of combat aircraft which have been modified to perform another military function, such as training.

Mr. Macdonald

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the reasons for the differences between the figures for North Atlantic Treaty Organisation combat aircraft in the region from the Atlantic to the Urals(a) provided in "Conventional Forces in Europe: The Facts", and (b) upon which North Atlantic Treaty Organisation has based its arms proposal to the conventional forces in Europe talks in Vienna; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Waldegrave

Because in their proposal at the Vienna talks the allies included, principally in order to enhance the viability of the verification regime, certain versions and variants of combat aircraft which were not included in the publication "Conventional Forces in Europe: The Facts".

Mr. Macdonald

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the present level of North Atlantic Treaty Organisation combat aircraft in the region from the Atlantic to the Urals.

Mr. Waldegrave

On the basis of the definition of combat aircraft proposed by the allies at the Vienna talks, the current overall level is around 6,700.

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