§ Mr. Bob RussellTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions in each of the past two years RAF flights serving the Falkland Islands have been delayed by mechanical or other failures; and if he will make a statement. [95315]
§ Mr. SpellarBetween the beginning of September 1999 and the middle of October 1999, there have been 22 legs flown to and from the Falkland Islands (11 outward and 11 return). Of these, five were delayed for serviceability or aircraft availability reasons. This information has only been held centrally since September 1999, following the introduction of a new computer system. Information for flights before then is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
§ Mr. Bob RussellTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will invite tenders from commercial airlines to provide planes to serve the garrison on the Falklands; and if he will make a statement. [95314]
704W
§ Mr. SpellarThere are no plans to contract out the airbridge service to and from the Falkland Islands. The Ministry of Defence will of course look at any unsolicited proposals from commercial airlines, to determine best value for money. The examination of previous unsolicited proposals did, however, conclude that, taking into account the operational requirement to retain the Royal Air Force Tristars, the use of military aircraft was the most cost-effective solution.