To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made with purchasing a new aeroplane for use by the Prime Minister; what the cost of purchasing the aeroplane will be; and by what date he expects the purchase to be complete. (141271)

On 23 May 2007, the Secretary of State for Transport announced the launch of the formal procurement process and a Prior Information Notice to potential suppliers was published in the Official Journal of the European Union on 25 May 2007.

Sir Peter Gershon's Independent Air Travel Review, copies of which are available in the Library, set out the estimated cost and timescale for delivery of this service.