I am withholding details of our short term military objectives for operational security reasons. However, all military action in Helmand is fully integrated as part of the comprehensive approach. This also includes, as stated by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 12 December 2007, Official Report, column 303, a long-term framework for security, political, social and economic development for Afghanistan.
The following table shows the punctuality statistics for RAF Tristar passenger flights returning from Kandahar, Afghanistan to Brize Norton. Unlike the civil air sector which measures departure punctuality the MOD chooses to measure the punctuality of arrival at the destination airfield, in this case Brize Norton.
Number of flights On time1 Between one to three hours of schedule Delayed between three to six hours of schedule Delayed over six hours 14 February 2006 to 31 December 2006 (date reflects start of service in 2006) 156 88 20 10 38 1 January 2007 to 31 December 2007 225 164 23 8 30 1 January 2008 to 31 October 2008 215 121 27 30 37 1 Defined as within one hour of schedule
Flights will only be cancelled from the schedule if the requirement ceases. Potential causes of delay include bad weather, technical delays to ensure flight safety and the need to divert aero-medical cases direct to Birmingham airport. In the event of a protracted delay, where practicable, an alternative means will be found to move passengers.