HC Deb 26 November 2001 vol 375 cc664-5W
Mr. Gray

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the contribution made by RAF Lyneham to the local economy. [17041]

Mr. Ingram

The Ministry of Defence has not produced a formal estimate of the current contribution made by RAF Lyneham to the local economy. As I announced on 22 November 2001,Official Report, column 367W, a study has been commissioned as part of the Department's normal planning process, to consider the future roles of RAF Lyneham, RAF Brize Norton and RAF St. Mawgan and an economic appraisal of all three sites will be conducted as part of this work. It is understood that previous local estimates have placed the contribution to the local economy in the region of £18 million a year and this figure will be validated as part of the study.

Mr. Gray

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many planes are based at(a) RAF Brize Norton and (b) RAF Lyneham; and how this total will change in the next five years to reflect (i) the introduction of the A400M and the C130J and (ii) the phasing out of the VC10 and Tristar. [17154]

Mr. Ingram

There are currently 33 aircraft based at RAF Brize Norton and 54 aircraft based at RAF Lyneham. On current plans, three Hercules C130K aircraft based at RAF Lyneham will be retired within the next five years in the last element of the rolling programme to replace part of the Hercules C130K fleet with C130Js. No other changes in aircraft numbers at RAF Lyneham and RAF Brize Norton are currently planned in the next five years as a result of the procurement of the A400M and C130J or the phasing out of the VC10 and Tristars.

Mr. Gray

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many vacant rooms there are at RAF Brize Norton(a) officers accommodation and (b) other ranks accommodation. 117039]

Dr. Moonie

As at 20 November 2001 there were(a) 31 rooms vacant in Officers' Mess accommodation out of a total of 183 and (b) four rooms vacant in the other ranks single living accommodation out of a total of 1,289. All 31 rooms vacant in the Officers' Mess are out of use as a result of repair work currently being carried out in one wing of the mess.

Mr. Gray

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what square footage of(a) hangers for aircraft maintenance and repairs and (b) apron parking there is at (i) RAF Lyneham and (ii) RAF Brize Norton; and what the total acreage is of each base. [17255]

Mr. Ingram

Hangars used for aircraft maintenance and repairs cover approximately 27,500 square metres at RAF Lyneham and approximately 19,970 square metres at RAF Brize Norton. The area of apron parking is approximately 270,000 square metres at RAF Lyneham and 470,000 square metres at RAF Brize Norton. RAF Lyneham covers approximately 1,164 acres and RAF Brize Norton approximately 1,184 acres.

Mr. Gray

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many officers and other ranks live in single accommodation at(a) RAF Lyneham and (b) RAF Brize Norton. [17038]

Dr. Moonie

As at 20 November 2001, there were 112 officers and 861 other ranks living in single living accommodation at RAF Lyneham. On the same date 152 officers and 1,275 other ranks were living in single living accommodation at RAF Brize Norton.

Mr. Gray

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many married quarters' houses there are at(a) RAF Lyneham and (b) RAF Brize Norton; and how many married quarters houses at RAF Brize Norton are unoccupied. [17256]

Dr. Moonie

There are 764 service families' accommodation at RAF Lyneham and 1,286 at RAF Brize Norton. 241 properties at Brize Norton are unoccupied although they are shortly to be handed back to Annington Homes. 68 are being refurbished or awaiting major repairs and 23 have been allocated to service families.

Mr. Gray

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what length the runway is at(a) RAF Lyneham and (b) RAF Brize Norton. [17378]

Mr. Ingram

The length of the main runway available for take off or landing at RAF Lyneham is 2,386 metres. The length of the secondary runway is 1,826 metres. The runway at RAF Brize Norton available for take off and landing is 3,050 metres long.