Railhead Transfer Equipment

HC Deb 28 February 1996 vol 272 cc537-8W

Dr. David Clark

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if railhead transfer equipment was deployed in the gulf war with the DROPS—demountable rack offloading and pick-up system—logistic supply chain; and if he will make a statement. [17761]

Mr. Soames

Railhead transfer equipment was not deployed in the Gulf because the tractor units on which it was mounted were not designed to operate in the desert conditions of the Gulf.

Dr. Clark

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the deployment of the Arbau-Klaus railhead transfer equipment to Bosnia; and how trains transporting British equipment unload their cargo before that deployment. [17759]

Mr. Soames

There is no requirement for the Arbau-Klaus railhead transfer equipment to be deployed to Bosnia. The unloading of cargo is currently undertaken by whichever mechanical handling system is available at each station or siding.

Dr. Clark

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if Arbau-Klaus railhead transfer equipment is capable of unloading DROPS flatracks. [17760]

Mr. Arbuthnot

Yes. The Arbau-Klaus railhead transfer equipment fully meets the specification to handle the DROPS flatracks.