§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much money has been spent on improving accommodation assigned to(a) commanding officers, (b) other officers and (c) other ranks in each of the last four years at RAF Finningley; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. HanleyFigures are not available prior to 1991 when works management was untied from the Property Services Agency and delegated to local budget areas. Figures from financial year 1991–92, which include both single and married accommodation, is as follows:
Year Commanding Officer Other Officers Other Ranks £ £ £ 1991–92 Nil 4,800,000 759,000 1992–93 Nil 483,000 1993–94 2,725 160,000 135,000 The £4,800,000 was spent over financial years 1991–92 and 1992–93 on a single project for a major refurbishment of officers' married quarters. The other expenditure largely relates to: Food Act improvements and health and safety fire measures in the officers', sergeants' and airmen's messes; the refurbishment of two barrack blocks for airmen in 1991 and 1992; and double-glazing for the commanding officer's residence.
§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what review there has been into the requirements of(a) RAF Finningley and (b) each other airport or aerodrome in Yorkshire and Humberside for military purposes (i) before and (ii) since the publication of "Options for Change".
§ Mr. HanleyNo formal review was conducted into the requirements for military purposes of either RAF Finningley or any other RAF airport or aerodrome in Yorkshire and Humberside prior to "Options for Change". Following "Options for Change", the RAF airfield at Church Fenton was declared surplus to requirements and the station was closed in April 1992, although the airfield remains in use as a relief landing ground for RAF Linton-on-Ouse. Currently, the complete RAF flying training requirement is the subject of a review which will include consideration of the use of all flying training airfields within the United Kingdom. More generally, the requirement for all RAF airfields is currently under review as part of the defence costs study "Front Line First".