§ Mr. HarveyTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the outcome of the recent market testing survey at Royal Air Force Valley. [22409]
§ Mr. SoamesFurther to a feasibility study which recommended market-testing a broad range of activities, my Department has proposed contractorising support services at RAF Valley. This proposal is subject to consultation with the trades unions and other interested parties.
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§ Mr. HarveyTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what will be the annual cost of renting additional airspace for Royal Air Force Valley weapons training's air-to-air gunnery after Aberporth range is given agency status. [22414]
§ Mr. SoamesThere will be no cost for the use of the airspace.
§ Mr. HarveyTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a comparison between the weapon task achievement over the last two weeks of Royal Air Force Chivenor being in operation and the average at Royal Air Force Valley. [22415]
§ Mr. SoamesIn the last two weeks of weapon task training from RAF Chivenor, 148 sorties were flown by RAF Valley aircraft using RAF Chivenor as a forward operating base. This represented an increase in the normal level of tasking and was in anticipation of a brief interruption prior to RAF St. Athan becoming available. The average number of weapon task training sorties planned by RAF Valley for any two-week period is 120.