HC Deb 18 April 2002 vol 383 c1078W
Mr. Gray

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what plans there are to provide temporary helicopter hangars on HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark; [50816]

(2) what assessment he has made of the impact the absence of hangars on landing platform docks will have on the serviceability of helicopters. [50817]

Mr. Ingram

There are currently no plans to provide temporary helicopter hangars on the landing platform dock (replacement)s (LPD(R)s HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark although these could be incorporated without fundamental modification of the vessels.

The lack of hangars on the LPD(R)s will have an impact on the serviceability of helicopters. This impact was taken into account when the decision about a hangar was made and assessed as manageable. HMS Intrepid and HMS Fearless, which HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark will replace, were not fitted with helicopter hangars.