To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what the (a) planned and (b) actual average flying hours of each aircraft type operating in (i) Iraq and (ii) Afghanistan was in each year since 2003; (289124)

I am withholding the information requested for Afghanistan as its disclosure would, or would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of our armed forces. I can say, however, that between November 2006 and April 2009 we increased the number of helicopter flying hours in Afghanistan by 84 per cent.

For Op TELIC aircraft supporting operations in Iraq, information on the number of planned operational flying hours is not held by the Department for any fleet. For actual flying hours on operations, this information is not recorded centrally. I am able to provide information for some aircraft types and this is provided in the following tables . For all other fixed wing aircraft and helicopter fleets that have been deployed on Op TELIC the information is either no longer held by the department or could be provided only at disproportionate cost. All statistics have been rounded to the nearest five hours.

For Nimrod MR2, Hercules and Tornado GR4 the total number of actual flying hours flown on Op TELIC is given by financial year.

For VCIO and Tristar the total number of actual flying hours flown on Op Telic is given by calendar year. VCIO was withdrawn from theatre in July 2009.

Over the period 2003-09 Nimrod Rl have flown a total of 1,770 hours and Sentry has flown 1,415 hours in support of Op Telic. It is not possible to break down these totals by year flown, without incurring disproportionate cost.