§ Mr. Home RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the estimated original and running costs of the deployment of seven F3 Tornados from RAF Leeming to Italy; from which budget these will be met; how many ground crew have been deployed, categorised as appropriate; what ground support will be made available by the Italian Air Force; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonThe RAF has deployed six Tornado and two VC-10 tanker aircraft. The additional annual operating cost of these aircraft, which is borne against the Defence budget, is currently assessed as some £20,000,000. As at 21 April, there were 227 ground personnel, but this figure can change from day to day. Italian and other allied forces are providing a wide range of ground support, mostly under NATO arrangements. This, too, varies with requirements.