§ Mr. DavidsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the Government's policy in respect of the criteria to be used in determining which airline should carry military personnel abroad.
§ Mr. HanleyWherever possible, military personnel are carried on Royal Air Force transport aircraft.
Where RAF aircraft are not available, or their use is not considered to be cost effective, movement may be carried out by commercial airlines. This can either take place under charter arrangements, as in the case of large numbers of passengers moving to a specific destination, such as Germany, or by use of specially negotiated fares with British, European and other airlines which are regularly monitored and renegotiated.
In determining which airline to use, it is my Department's practice to engage in competitive tendering and best value-for-money negotiations, taking full account of Department of Transport guidelines and EC services directives, as appropriate.