§ Mr. MansTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many aircrew below the rank of group captain there were in the RAF in(a) 1980, (b) 1985, (c) 1990 and (d) 1993; and what is planned in 1995.
§ Mr. HanleyThe numbers of RAF aircrew—including trainees—below the rank of group captain for the years requested were as follows:
1 April for each year Number 1980 7,783 1985 8,009 1990 7,601 1993 7,233 The current forecast for 1 April 1995 is around 6,460.
§ Mr. MansTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total cost of the RAF in 1993 prices in(a) 1980, (b) 1985, (c) 1990, (d) 1992 and (e) 1993; and what is projected in the current year, and in 1995 and 1996.
§ Mr. HanleyThe costs of each of the services are not separately calculated and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
§ Mr. MansTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many reconnaissance aircraft there were in RAF front-line squadrons in(a) 1980, (b) 1985 and (c) 1990; and what is planned in 1995;
(2) how many close air support aircraft there were in RAF front-line squadrons in (a) 1980, (b) 1985 and (c) 1990; and what is planned for 1995;
(3) how many air defence aircraft there were in RAF front-line squadrons in (a) 1980, (b) 1985 and (c) 1990; and what is planned in 1995;
(4) how many maritime patrol aircraft there were in RAF front-line squadrons in (a) 1980, (b) 1985 and (c) 1990; and what is planned in 1995;
(5) how many strike/attack aircraft there were in RAF front-line squadrons in (a) 1980, (b) 1985 and (c) 1990; and what is planned for 1995.
§ Mr. HanleyThe details requested on aircraft in RAF front line squadrons, not including in-use reserves or those on operational conversion units are:
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1980 1985 1990 1995 (planned) Role Jaquar 1108 160 36 36 CAS/R/A Vulcan B2 48 — — — S/A Buccaneer 60 24 24 — S/A/CAS Harrier 52 48 48 39 CAS/R Tornado GR1 a/b — 100 120 96 CAS/R/S/A Lightning F3/F6 24 24 — — AD Phantom FG1 31 31 5 — AD Phantom FGR2 57 55 34 — AD Phantom F4J — 12 10 — AD Tornado F3 — — 70 80 AD Note 1. Includes aircraft designated for the strike role.
KEY MP (maritime patrol), R (reconnaissance), CAS (close air support), A (attack), S (strike), AD (air defence).
§ Mr. MansTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many new aircraft were delivered to the RAF in(a) 1990, (b) 1991, (c) 1992 and (d) 1993; and what is planned in the current year and in 1995.
§ Mr. AitkenI refer my hon. Friend to the RAF forward equipment tables in the statement on the defence estimates 1991, 1992 and 1993 for the statistics requested for the financial years 1990–91, 1991–92, 1992–93. The information for the current and next two financial years is as follows:
1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 VC10 tankers1 4 9 3 Chinook Mk22 8 16 11 Tucano 2 — — Harrier T10 — 8 4 Sea King HAR3 — — 6 1 Conversion of existing aircraft to tanker role. 2 32 RAF Chinook Mk1s are being updated to a new Mk2 standard. In addition three new-build Chinook Mk2s will be delivered during 1995–96.
§ Mr. MansTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many ground crew there were on RAF front-line squadrons in(a) 1980, (b) 1985 and (c) 1990; and what is planned for 1995.
§ Mr. HanleyThis information is not available in the form requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
§ Mr. MansTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many aircrew there were on RAF front-line squadrons in(a) 1980, (b) 1985, (c) 1990 and (d) 1993; and what is planned in 1995.
§ Mr. HanleyIt is not our practice to disclose information of this kind as it relates to operational capability.
§ Mr. MansTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many officers of air rank there were in(a) 1980, (b) 1985, (c) 1990 and (d) 1993; and what is planned in 1995.
§ Mr. HanleyThe numbers of RAF officers of air rank in the years requested were as follows:
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Year Number 1 April 1980 182 1 April 1985 174 1 April 1990 174 1 April 1993 163 The current forecast for 1 April 1995 is some 124.
§ Mr. MansTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total strength of the RAF in(a) 1980, (b) 1985, (c) 1990 and (d) 1993; and what is planned for 1995.
§ Mr. HanleyThe total strength of the RAF, including trainees, for the years requested was as follows:
Year Number 1 April 1980 89,641 1 April 1985 93,425 1 April 1990 89,685 1 April 1993 80,909 The current forecast for 1 April 1995 is around 70,000.
§ Mr. MansTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many pilots below the rank of group captain there were in the RAF in(a) 1980, (b) 1985, (c) 1990 and (d) 1993; and what are the figures projected for 1995.
§ Mr. HanleyThe number of pilots, including trainees, below the rank of group captain in the RAF for the years requested were as follows:
Number 1 April 1980 3,146 1 April 1985 4,059 1 April 1990 3,570 1 April 1993 3,429 The current forecast for 1 April 1995 is around 3,050.
§ Mr. MansTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total amount spent on RAF pensions at 1993 prices in(a) 1980, (b) 1985, (c) 1990 and (d) 1993; and what is projected in 1995.
§ Mr. HanleyTotal expenditure on RAF pensions, at 1993–94 prices, in the financial years in question was:
£ 1980–81 300,730,000 1985–86 400,797,000 1990–91 519,904,000 Current forecasts for financial years 1993–94 and 1995–96 are:
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£ 1993–94 638,843,000 1995–96 639,409,000
§ Mr. MansTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many RAF stations there were in(a) 1985, (b) 1990 and (c) 1993; and what is planned for 1996.
§ Mr. HanleyI will write to my hon. Friend.