§ 20. Dr. IddonTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made in establishing the Joint Force 2000. [122659]
§ Mr. HoonI am pleased to confirm that Joint Force Harrier was formed, under the command of Rear Admiral lain Henderson, on 1 April this year. My hon. Friend the Minister for the Armed Forces had the pleasure of attending the launch ceremonies at RAF Strike Command and RAF Wittering on 31 March.
Joint Force Harrier combines the Royal Navy's Sea Harrier and RAF Harrier squadrons in a single force which is able to operate from land bases or carriers, as the recent operation off Sierra Leone has demonstrated. In 2003 both fleets will be co-located at RAF Cottesmore and RAF Wittering to fully realise the significant operational benefits that the creation of Joint Force Harrier will bring.