HC Deb 06 November 1995 vol 265 cc591-2W
Mr. Alan Williams

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many aircraft, of which type, make up No. 32, the Royal Squadron; what is the original capital value of each aircraft; how old each is; and what is its present value. [41383]

Mr. Soames

Details of the composition of No. 32, the Royal Squadron, which is responsible for royal, VIP and other communications flying, are set out in the table. Under the Government's resource accounting initiative, the capital values of all such assets are being identified; however, this work will not be complete until April 1998.

Aircraft of No. 32 (The Royal) Squadron—at 1 November 1995
AC Type Date procured Current age Total AC by type
Flight A
BAe 146 100 Series April 1986 9 years, 6 months 13 AE
BAe 146 100 Series July 1986 9 years, 3 months
BAe 146 100 Series January 1991 4 years, 9 months
Flight B
Wessex HCC Mk4 June 1969 26 years, months 2 AE
Wessex HCC Mk4 June 1969 26 years, 4 months
Gazelle HT Mk4 18 January 1984 11 years, 9 months
Gazelle HT Mk3 31 August 1978 17 years, 2 months 2 AE +
Gazelle HT Mk3(IUR) 31 July 1973 22 years, 3 months 22IUR
Gazelle HT Mk3(IUR) 5 July 1973 22 years, 4 months
Flight C
BAe 125 700 Series 23 February 1983 12 years, 8 months 6 AE
BAe 125 700 Series 14 March 1983 12 years, 7 months
BAe 125 700 Series 15 April 1983 12 years, 6 months
BAe 125 700 Series 23 August 1983 12 years, 2 months
BAe 125 700 Series 26 November 1983 11 years, 11 months
BAe 125 700 Series 17 February 1984 11 years, 8 months
BAe 125 600 Series 24 April 1973 22 years, 6 months 1 AE +
BAe 125 600 Series(IUR) 26 April 1973 22 Years, 6 months 1 IUR
1Aircraft established.
2In use reserve.

Mr. Williams

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of the usage of the royal flight in each of the five years to April 1995 was used by the royal family(a) as a proportion of occasions used and (b) as a proportion of distance covered. [41384]

Mr. Soames

The percentage of passenger carrying flights by the Queen's flight on which a member of the royal family was a passenger in each financial year from 1990–91 to 1994–95 was as follows:

  • 1990–91: 94 per cent.
  • 1991–92: 95 per cent.
  • 1993–94: 94 per cent.
  • 1993–94: 90 per cent.
  • 1994–95: 88 per cent.

Information on distance covered could not be provided without disproportionate cost.