§ Mr. Home RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Walsall, South (Mr. George) of 20 May,Official Report, column 185, if he will set out the total amount paid to date for charter of Maersk Ascension since inception of the charter arrangements; what arrangements existed for bulk fuel storage prior to the charter for Maersk Ascension; what assessment his Department has made of the costs of construction of appropriate onshore facilities and of subsequent running costs; and for what purposes bulk fuel storage at Ascension island is required.
§ Mr. AitkenSince inception of the charter arrangements for the Maersk Ascension in July 1983, the Department has paid just over £23.5 million in charter costs to date. Before the Falklands campaign there was no requirement for bulk fuel storage for the RAF at Ascension island. During and after the conflct temporary storage arrangements were made involving the use of pillow tanks. In 1988 a limited study showed the costs of construction of an appropriate on-shore facility to be around £11 million. No estimate for running costs was made. A detailed investment appraisal is currently being undertaken. The requirement for bulk fuel storage at Ascension island is to support routine flying activities and for refuelling of aircraft flying to the Falkland islands.