To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether any additional orders have been placed with Vickers plc for the supply of spare parts for Challenger tanks as a result of the deployment of forces to the Gulf.

Yes.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether any additional orders have been placed with GKN plc for the supply of spare parts for Warrior armoured vehicles as a result of the deployment of forces to the Gulf.

Orders already in the pipeline with GKN for the support of Warrior armoured vehicles have been brought forward as a result of the deployment of forces to the Gulf.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the operational availability of armoured vehicles deployed with the 7 Armoured Brigade has been increased or reduced since their deployment to the Gulf.

The armoured vehicles deployed with the 7 Armoured Brigade underwent a programme of modification to improve their performance in harsh desert conditions. We are satisfied with the resultant operational availability.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he plans to improve the operational availability of armoured vehicles deployed with the 4 Armoured Brigade once they have been moved to the Gulf.

The armoured vehicles that will deploy with 4 Brigade will be modified on arrival in the Gulf to ensure that operational availability is maintained in the harsh desert environment.