§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what is the role and function of 51 Squadron, Royal Air Force; what are its annual running costs; and from which subheads of which votes these funds are taken; [19960]
(2) how many aircraft are currently assigned to 51 Squadron, Royal Air Force; what plans there are to increase the number of aircraft assigned to this squadron; what are the estimated costs of such an increase; and from which subheads of which votes these funds will be taken; [19959]
(3) on what date 51 Squadron, Royal Air Force, was established. [19961]
(4) what is the current assignment of 51 Squadron, Royal Air Force. [19958]
§ Mr. SoamesNo. 51 Squadron, Royal Air Force, was reformed on 21 August 1958 to operate electronic reconnaissance aircraft. The squadron currently comprises two Nimrod R aircraft; a Nimrod MR2 from storage is being converted to replace a third which was lost on 16 May 1995.
The squadron's forecast running costs for the current financial year are approximately £7.1 million, and are included in Air Officer Commander-in-Chief Strike Command's top level budget, vote 1 section D1.
There are no plans to increase the squadron's complement of three aircraft.
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