asked the Secretary of State for Defence if, in view of his answer to the hon. Member for Stockport, North on Tuesday 14th January about the fuel costs of MRCA, he will indicate what figures were used for the fuel costs of MRCA training flights when the defence review was being carried out.

Cost estimates were based on studies carried out in association with the manufacturers, but these were not related specifically to training. They show that on current forecasts the MRCA should consume much less fuel than aircraft such as the Vulcan and Phantom which it is intended to replace.