§ 21. Mr. HeathTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he will take a decision on the future role of RNAS Yeovilton. [15095]
§ Mr. IngramThe Strategic Defence Review confirmed that RNAS Yeovilton will remain a major Royal Naval and Defence establishment, and recommended the transfer of the Sea Harrier squadrons and support staff from RNAS Yeovilton to RAF Cottesmore and Wittering in 2003, as part of the Joint Force Harrier initiative.
The precise mix of aircraft types to be based at RNAS Yeovilton in the next decade remains under review. Any emerging proposals for change would be announced in due course and would be subject, where appropriate, to consultation.
As part of the study into the basing strategy of the Joint Helicopter Command, I have recently agreed to the recommendation, based on operational and cost grounds, that helicopters based at RAF Odiham and 9 Regiment AAC Dishforth should remain in their current locations, rather than move to RNAS Yeovilton.