HC Deb 24 March 1998 vol 309 cc90-1W
Mr. Wilkinson

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost has been to his Department in each of the last 10 years of the charter of heavy lift cargo aircraft from civilian operators. [34890]

Dr. Reid

[holding answer 23 March 1998]: The costs of the charter of heavy lift cargo aircraft from civil operators for 1996, 1997 and 1998 (to date) are set out below. It is not possible to provide figures for years before 1996 without disproportionate cost.

£ million
1996 1.60
1997 3.30
1998 (to date) 1.32

Mr. Wilkinson

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the types of civilian heavy lift cargo aircraft chartered by his Department over the last 10 years; their country of registration and the names of the air carriers by which they were operated. [34891]

Dr. Reid

[holding answer 23 March 1998]: The details of the types of heavy lift cargo aircraft chartered by the Ministry of Defence from civil operators for 1996, 1997 and 1998 (to date) are set out in the table. It is not possible to provide the information required for the years before 1996 without disproportionate cost.

Aircraft type Country of registration Operators
1996: AN-124 Russia Heavylift
IL-76 Russia Heavylift
Belfast UK Heavylift
1997: AN-124 Russia Heavylift
AN-124 Ukraine Air Foyle
IL-76 Russia Heavylift
DC8 Zimbabwe Heavylift
Belfast UK Heavylift
1998 (to date): AN-124 Russia Heavylift
AN-124 Ukraine Air Foyle
IL-76 Russia Heavylift
IL-76 Ukraine/Latvia Air Foyle
Belfast UK Heavylift