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Written Question
Ukraine: Military Aid
Wednesday 24th May 2023

Asked by: Robert Courts (Conservative - Witney)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of providing basic training for Ukrainian pilots on the RAF pilot training programme.

Answered by James Heappey

Elementary flying training for Ukrainian pilots is being planned in a manner which will not impact core Sovereign UK pilot training.


Written Question
A400M Aircraft: Procurement
Tuesday 16th May 2023

Asked by: Robert Courts (Conservative - Witney)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make an estimate of the number of (a) task lines the A400M fleet has been able to offer and (b) planned task line availability for each of the last 12 months.

Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

Whilst the Hercules C-130J fleet will continue to drawdown, a number of the aircraft have sufficient remaining flying hours to enable an extended drawdown to 30 June 2023, maximising use of the fleet.

Atlas availability is being actively managed. There has been a steady improvement in aircraft availability and fleet resilience. Following direct intervention and a determined improvement campaign, the daily aircraft availability is approximately 25% greater compared to 18-months ago. A number of Atlas airframes will complete upgrade before the summer, adding to the available fleet.


Written Question
Hercules Aircraft
Tuesday 16th May 2023

Asked by: Robert Courts (Conservative - Witney)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make an estimate of the number of (a) task lines the C130J fleet has been able to offer and (b) planned task line availability for each of the last 12 months.

Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

Whilst the Hercules C-130J fleet will continue to drawdown, a number of the aircraft have sufficient remaining flying hours to enable an extended drawdown to 30 June 2023, maximising use of the fleet.

Atlas availability is being actively managed. There has been a steady improvement in aircraft availability and fleet resilience. Following direct intervention and a determined improvement campaign, the daily aircraft availability is approximately 25% greater compared to 18-months ago. A number of Atlas airframes will complete upgrade before the summer, adding to the available fleet.


Written Question
A400M Aircraft
Tuesday 16th May 2023

Asked by: Robert Courts (Conservative - Witney)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what proportion of the task line availability offered by C130J will be replaced by A400M on a one-for-one basis by 30 June 2023.

Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

Whilst the Hercules C-130J fleet will continue to drawdown, a number of the aircraft have sufficient remaining flying hours to enable an extended drawdown to 30 June 2023, maximising use of the fleet.

Atlas availability is being actively managed. There has been a steady improvement in aircraft availability and fleet resilience. Following direct intervention and a determined improvement campaign, the daily aircraft availability is approximately 25% greater compared to 18-months ago. A number of Atlas airframes will complete upgrade before the summer, adding to the available fleet.


Written Question
Ukraine: Military Aid
Tuesday 16th May 2023

Asked by: Robert Courts (Conservative - Witney)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what proportion of the air mobility fleet has been engaged in the movement of equipment and supplies to Ukraine since 1 December 2022.

Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

We are one of the leading providers of military support for Ukraine and were the first country to donate modern main battle tanks and long-range precision strike missiles. In addition, we have provided millions of rounds of ammunition, hundreds of armoured and protected mobility vehicles and other equipment.

Across hundreds of flights delivering this support in the last year, the entire Air Mobility Force has been engaged in the movement of equipment, supplies and trained Ukrainian recruits.


Written Question
Hercules Aircraft
Monday 9th September 2019

Asked by: Robert Courts (Conservative - Witney)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Defence Safety Authority report into the loss of a C130J Hercules in Iraq in August 2017, published May 2019, which stated that the resourced position of 20 crews will be insufficient to deliver a sustainable force beyond 2019, what additional (a) financial and (b) personnel resources have been allocated to the C130J force to ensure its sustainability.

Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton

The increased resource position provided by the most recent planning round meets Defence requirements. Decisions on the number of resourced crews beyond that date have not been finalised and will be undertaken as part of normal budgetary cycles. This process considers and prioritises safety above all other enhancements.


Written Question
Armed Forces
Monday 20th May 2019

Asked by: Robert Courts (Conservative - Witney)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

What recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of the (a) capabilities and (b) strength of the armed forces.

Answered by Penny Mordaunt - Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons

The Ministry of Defence launched the Modernising Defence Programme in January last year which looked across the spectrum at our current and planned capabilities, right through to our business practices.

It is an ambitious programme, but we are confident that Defence is making the right capability investments and policy approaches to ensure we remain one of the strongest Defence players in Europe.


Written Question
Military Aircraft: Sales
Tuesday 5th February 2019

Asked by: Robert Courts (Conservative - Witney)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Department's disposal of surplus aircraft by sale or gifting since January 2013, what the (a) average price paid by the buyer, (b) total cost of commissions paid to third-party agencies and (c) total revenue returned to the public purse was for each type of those surplus aircraft so disposed.

Answered by Stuart Andrew - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

Information on aircraft sales and gifting from December 2016 to December 2018 is provided in the tables below. Further information outside of these dates could only be provided at disproportionate cost. Additionally, I am also withholding information on prices, costs and revenues, as disclosure would prejudice commercial interests as well as relations between the United Kingdom and other states.

Aircraft Sales: December 2016 – December 2018

Aircraft Type

Tail Number

Jet Provost T5A

XW418

Harrier GR3

XZ994

Wessex

XS520/ XP137

Meteor

WH132

Wessex HC Mk2

XR528

Hawk TMk1

XX292/ XX226/ XX290/ XX175

Hunter T.8C

WV396

Jet Provost T5A

XW420

Bulldog

XX665

Tornado GR4

ZA549

Meteor F. Mk. 8

VZ568/7261M

Puma HC Mk1

XW208

Chinook HC Mk1

ZA717

Typhoon T3

ZJ800

Hercules C1/C3

XV200/ XV177

Lynx HMA Mk8

ZD566/ XZ722

Lynx AH Mk9A

ZG884/ ZG886/ ZG916

Wessex HU Mk5

XT771/ XT761

Sea King Mk4

ZF116

Lynx AH Mk9A

ZF539/ ZG887/ ZG888/ ZG914

Harrier T8

ZD990

Sea Harrier FA2

ZH807

The aircraft sales were made through a contractor under the marketing agreement held with the Ministry of Defence (MOD). The MOD does not hold details of contractor marketing routes.

Government to Government Aircraft Sales: December 2016 – December 2018

Aircraft Type

Tail Number

Sea King Helicopters

ZH544/ ZH545/ ZA295/ ZA296/ ZA299/ ZF117/ ZG821

Hercules Mk5

XH880/ XH886/ XH881/ XH884

Aircraft Gifting Cases: December 2016 – December 2018

Aircraft Type

Tail Number

Sea King HAR Mk3

XZ593

Lynx AH Mk7

ZD280

Hawk TMk1

XX308

Jaguar GR1

XX824

Wessex HC Mk2

XR529


Written Question
Military Aircraft: Sales
Tuesday 5th February 2019

Asked by: Robert Courts (Conservative - Witney)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Department's disposal of surplus aircraft by sale or gifting since January 2013, which of those surplus aircraft so disposed were advertised as being for sale by competitive bid; and whether those surplus aircraft so advertised were procured by a preferred purchaser.

Answered by Stuart Andrew - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

Information on aircraft sales and gifting from December 2016 to December 2018 is provided in the tables below. Further information outside of these dates could only be provided at disproportionate cost. Additionally, I am also withholding information on prices, costs and revenues, as disclosure would prejudice commercial interests as well as relations between the United Kingdom and other states.

Aircraft Sales: December 2016 – December 2018

Aircraft Type

Tail Number

Jet Provost T5A

XW418

Harrier GR3

XZ994

Wessex

XS520/ XP137

Meteor

WH132

Wessex HC Mk2

XR528

Hawk TMk1

XX292/ XX226/ XX290/ XX175

Hunter T.8C

WV396

Jet Provost T5A

XW420

Bulldog

XX665

Tornado GR4

ZA549

Meteor F. Mk. 8

VZ568/7261M

Puma HC Mk1

XW208

Chinook HC Mk1

ZA717

Typhoon T3

ZJ800

Hercules C1/C3

XV200/ XV177

Lynx HMA Mk8

ZD566/ XZ722

Lynx AH Mk9A

ZG884/ ZG886/ ZG916

Wessex HU Mk5

XT771/ XT761

Sea King Mk4

ZF116

Lynx AH Mk9A

ZF539/ ZG887/ ZG888/ ZG914

Harrier T8

ZD990

Sea Harrier FA2

ZH807

The aircraft sales were made through a contractor under the marketing agreement held with the Ministry of Defence (MOD). The MOD does not hold details of contractor marketing routes.

Government to Government Aircraft Sales: December 2016 – December 2018

Aircraft Type

Tail Number

Sea King Helicopters

ZH544/ ZH545/ ZA295/ ZA296/ ZA299/ ZF117/ ZG821

Hercules Mk5

XH880/ XH886/ XH881/ XH884

Aircraft Gifting Cases: December 2016 – December 2018

Aircraft Type

Tail Number

Sea King HAR Mk3

XZ593

Lynx AH Mk7

ZD280

Hawk TMk1

XX308

Jaguar GR1

XX824

Wessex HC Mk2

XR529


Written Question
Military Aircraft: Sales
Tuesday 5th February 2019

Asked by: Robert Courts (Conservative - Witney)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which of his Department's surplus aircraft, by aircraft type, were disposed of by sale or gifting since January 2013; and what the military registrations were of each those surplus aircraft so disposed.

Answered by Stuart Andrew - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

Information on aircraft sales and gifting from December 2016 to December 2018 is provided in the tables below. Further information outside of these dates could only be provided at disproportionate cost. Additionally, I am also withholding information on prices, costs and revenues, as disclosure would prejudice commercial interests as well as relations between the United Kingdom and other states.

Aircraft Sales: December 2016 – December 2018

Aircraft Type

Tail Number

Jet Provost T5A

XW418

Harrier GR3

XZ994

Wessex

XS520/ XP137

Meteor

WH132

Wessex HC Mk2

XR528

Hawk TMk1

XX292/ XX226/ XX290/ XX175

Hunter T.8C

WV396

Jet Provost T5A

XW420

Bulldog

XX665

Tornado GR4

ZA549

Meteor F. Mk. 8

VZ568/7261M

Puma HC Mk1

XW208

Chinook HC Mk1

ZA717

Typhoon T3

ZJ800

Hercules C1/C3

XV200/ XV177

Lynx HMA Mk8

ZD566/ XZ722

Lynx AH Mk9A

ZG884/ ZG886/ ZG916

Wessex HU Mk5

XT771/ XT761

Sea King Mk4

ZF116

Lynx AH Mk9A

ZF539/ ZG887/ ZG888/ ZG914

Harrier T8

ZD990

Sea Harrier FA2

ZH807

The aircraft sales were made through a contractor under the marketing agreement held with the Ministry of Defence (MOD). The MOD does not hold details of contractor marketing routes.

Government to Government Aircraft Sales: December 2016 – December 2018

Aircraft Type

Tail Number

Sea King Helicopters

ZH544/ ZH545/ ZA295/ ZA296/ ZA299/ ZF117/ ZG821

Hercules Mk5

XH880/ XH886/ XH881/ XH884

Aircraft Gifting Cases: December 2016 – December 2018

Aircraft Type

Tail Number

Sea King HAR Mk3

XZ593

Lynx AH Mk7

ZD280

Hawk TMk1

XX308

Jaguar GR1

XX824

Wessex HC Mk2

XR529