HC Deb 19 January 1998 vol 304 cc410-1W
Mr. Hoyle

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the competition for Tranche 2 of the Hercules Replacement Programme and the possibility of leasing C-17 aircraft. [23137]

Mr. Spellar

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 5 November 1997,Official Report, column 255. One of the aims of the Strategic Defence Review is to ensure that our Armed Forces are properly equipped to undertake the tasks asked of them. Our air transport requirement is therefore being scrutinised closely in the Strategic Defence Review.

Mr. Hoyle

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he plans to issue the invitation to tender for the RAF's Tranche 2 airlift requirements to Lockheed Martin and Boeing/McDonnell Douglas for a full competition. [23140]

Mr. Spellar

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 5 November 1997,Official Report, column 255. We are still considering with partners how a competition involving other aircraft might be organised.

Mr. Hoyle

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the impact of discussion of C-17 leasing on efforts to integrate(a) European aerospace companies, and (b) the aerospace industry in general. [23143]

Mr. Spellar

One of the aims of the Strategic Defence Review is to ensure that our Armed Forces are properly equipped to undertake the tasks asked of them. Our air transport requirement is therefore being scrutinised closely in the Strategic Defence Review. Where appropriate, industrial and other implications will be taken into account in reaching decisions on the way ahead.

Mr. Hoyle

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what assessment he has made of the(a) cost, (b) viability and (c) acceptability to the Royal Air Force of the Royal Air Force operating three types of heavy-lift aircraft; [23136]

(2) what plans his Department has for a near-term lease of C-17 aircraft; [23138]

(3) when the Government will make a full public statement on his Department's requirement for an outsize cargo airlift capability within the SDR; [23141]

(4) what conclusions have so far been reached as part of the SDR in relation to the future of the FLA. [23139]

Mr. Spellar

One of the aims of the Strategic Defence Review is to ensure that the Armed Forces are properly equipped to undertake the tasks asked of them. Our air transport requirement is therefore being scrutinised closely in the Review. We will announce our conclusions in the White Paper to be published at the end of the Review.