HC Deb 04 May 1999 vol 330 cc297-8W
Mr. Hancock

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what slippage in the Eurofighter programme has taken place since its inception. [82527]

Mr. George Robertson

This is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Defence Procurement Agency. I have asked the Chief Executive to write to the hon. Member.

Letter from Robert Walmsley to Mr. Mike Hancock, dated 4 May 1999I am replying to your question to the Secretary of State for Defence about the extent of slippage in the Eurofighter programme since its inception. This matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief of Defence Procurement and Chief Executive of the Defence Procurement Agency. Since the inception of the Eurofighter development programme in 1988, there has been slippage of 42 months against the original In-Service Date (the date of delivery of first aircraft to the Royal Air Force). This slippage was reported in the Department's Major Projects Report 1998, which I submitted to the Clerk to the Public Accounts Committee on 5 February 1999, and which was copied to the House of Commons Defence Committee.

Mr. Hancock

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what changes to the UK requirements for Eurofighter aircraft have been made since May 1997; and at what cost. [82523]

Mr. George Robertson

There have been no changes to our requirements for Eurofighter aircraft since May 1997.

Mr. Hancock

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the Operational(a) Conversion Unit and (b) Evaluation Unit squadron of Eurofighters will be in service. [82525]

Mr. George Robertson

It is currently planned that the Operational Evaluation Unit will be formed in June 2002 following delivery of the first Eurofighter aircraft. This will be followed by the progressive build-up of the Operational Conversion Unit, which is currently planned to be complete by June 2004.