To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made as to the adequacy of the maintenance of aircraft at RAF St. Athan; and if he will make a statement.

RAF St. Athan is accredited by my Department's directorate of quality assurance to an international quality standard and there is no cause to doubt the quality of the aircraft maintenance carried out there. Some problems have, however, been identified during a recent modification programme on Tornado aircraft, the cause of which is currently being examined.