Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 20 November 2023 to Question 2114 on Sloane Helicopters: Contracts, for what length of time the contract with Sloane Helicopters has been extended; what the maximum value is that has been placed on the services to be provided during that period; and when the contract extension was agreed.

The existing contract was extended from October pending a full competition on a new contract. Such commercial matters will be determined in due course.

More broadly, the contract primarily provides travel for the command functions of the Ministry of Defence. Utilising irreducible spare capacity, provision is also made for senior Ministers and members of the Royal Household to travel in fulfilment of their official duties.

I would note that such arrangements are long-standing and have operated under successive governments of all political colours.