Helicopters Dr. Fox To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on which occasions his Department leased helicopters from commercial contractors in each year since 2003; and what the cost was in each year. Mr. Bob Ainsworth Details of helicopters leased from commercial contractors since 2003 are given in the following table. All costs are exclusive of VAT. Total costs in each financial year only have been included. I am withholding information about individual contract value as its release would or would be likely to prejudice commercial interests. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | |Total(£ million)| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |2003-04|FB Heliservices Ltd. Training task (Bell 212HP). |— | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |2004-05|FB Heliservices Ltd. Training task (Bell 212HP). | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | |Aviation support to UK interests in the Far East (Bell 212AH Mkl). | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | |Total |5.3 | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |2005-06|FB Heliservices Ltd. Training task (Bell212HP). | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | |Aviation support to UK interests in the Far East (Bell 212AH Mkl). | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | |Total |5.3 | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |2006-07|FB Heliservices Ltd. Training task (Bell212HP). | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | |Aviation support to UK interests in the Far East (Bell 212AH Mkl). | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | |Air crew training. (Bell 212) | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | |British International T/A Veritair Ltd. Logistics support and supply to Falkland Island units (Sikorsky S61N)| | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | |Westland Helicopters Ltd. Training and VIP short haul AgustaA109E) | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | |Total |11 | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |2007-08|FB Heliservices Ltd. Training task (Bell212HP). | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | |Aviation support to UK interests in the Far East (Bell 212AH Mkl). | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | |Air crew training (Bell 2 12) | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | |British International T/A Veritair Ltd. Logistics support and supply to Falkland Island units (Sikorsky S61N)| | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | |Westland Helicopters Ltd. Training and VIP short haul (AgustaA109E) | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | |Total |11 | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mr. Hollobone To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the age is of the oldest (a) Puma and (b) Chinook helicopters in operational military service. Mr. Bob Ainsworth [holding answer 4 December 2007]: The oldest Puma helicopters in operational military service are XW198 and XW199, both having entered service in January 1971; they are 36 years old. The oldest Chinook helicopter in operational military service is ZA670, having entered service in September 1980; it is 27 years old.