Falkland Islands (Hansard, 26 March 1999)

§ Mr. Ben Chapman
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will review the decision to reduce Tristar flights to the Falklands. [75640]
433W

§ Mr. Hoyle
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will review his Department's decision to reduce the number of Tristar flights to the Falkland Islands. [75756]

§ Mr. Doug Henderson
[pursuant to his replies, 9 March 1999, c. 120 and 10 March 1999, c. 211]: The number of Tristar flights will reduce by one flight per lunar month, not calendar month as originally stated.

§ Mr. Ben Chapman
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence to what extent the weaponry held by the Falkland Island Defence Force and by the British troops stationed on the island is compatible. [77992]

§ Mr. Doug Henderson
The Falkland Islands Defence Force (FIDF) possesses a variety of weaponry. The majority of the weapons types are UK manufactured or use UK manufactured ammunition and some are also in use with UK armed forces.

§ Mr. Ben Chapman
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what would be the effect on passenger carriage capacity of the proposed reduction in Tristar flights to the Falklands. [78390]

§ Mr. Doug Henderson
The reduction in the number of RAF Tristar flights to the Falkland Islands was one of a range of efficiency proposals identified by the Strategic Defence Review. It represents a rationalisation of the use of Tristar aircraft following technical improvements that allow them to carry an increased payload. The effect of this measure, once fully implemented, will be to maintain passenger carriage capacity at its original level.