To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 19 January 2010, Official Report, column 205W, on military aircraft: helicopters, when he expects main gate approval to be obtained for specific upgrades to extend the service life of the (a) Merlin Mk3, (b) Merlin Mk3a, (c) Sea King Mk4, (d) Sea King Mk7, (e) Apache, (f) Chinook Mk2 and (g) Chinook Mk2a. (316069)

We expect to proceed to main gate approval for Sea King Mk4 this year. All other main gate approvals, with the exception of the procurement of an additional 22 new Chinook and a relatively modest investment in Sea King Mk7, will not take place until the conclusion of the Defence Review.