§ Mr. BlizzardTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what plans he has to put the operation of the airbridge between the UK and the Falkland Islands out to commercial tender; [129653]
(2) what plans he has to change the type of aircraft used to maintain the airbridge between the UK and the Falkland Islands; [129655]
(3) if he intends to use the Private Finance Initiative to support the airbridge between the UK and the Falkland Islands. [129654]
§ Mr. SpellarThe airbridge service to and from the Falkland Islands is provided by TriStars. Previous consideration of whether we should contract out the airbridge, in response to unsolicited proposals, has concluded 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.
12WHowever, as part of work into how the MOD's strategic passenger lift and air-to-air refuelling capabilities should be provided, we are currently exploring with industry (under the Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft programme) whether capabilities provided by the VC10 and TriStar aircraft might be replaced by a service provided under a Private Finance Initiative/Public Private Partnership venture within the 2007–09 timeframe. The Statement of Requirement for this programme includes provision of the airbridge to the Falkland Islands.