§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the cost of flying Corporal Martin Haymand serving with the Royal Regiment of Wales in the Falkland Islands, the round trip to Bristol to have his spectacles repaired; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. HanleyCorporal Hayman required spectacles for carrying out his normal duties. While an optician visits the Falkland Islands each year the next visit is scheduled for July 1994. On medical advice, corporal Hayman was advised to return to the United Kingdom to obtain replacement spectacles after his own were broken. He occupied a spare seat on a regular RAF flight, returning to the Falkland Islands four days later taking the next available free seat. These seats would have been unoccupied if corporal Hayman had not used them and therefore there was no extra cost to the taxpayer.