Written question asked by Lord Davies of Stamford (Conservative) on Tuesday, 10 January 2006, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 12 January 2006. It was answered by Lord Reid of Cardowan (Labour) on Monday, 16 January 2006 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Royal Flight

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) who is allowed to use the resources of the Royal Flight; on what criteria eligibility is based; and whether he has plans to alter these criteria;

Answer: No. 32 (The Royal) Squadron, based at RAF Northolt, is established for the support of military and government communications tasks in times of crisis and war. The Royal Household, Government Ministers and senior military officers may use irreducible spare capacity within this communications fleet when the aircraft are not being used to support named military operations or training. Such tasking is allocated according to seniority.It is planned to replace the three commercially owned-RAF operated Twin-Squirrel Helicopters which form part of the fleet with three Agusta 109 Power helicopters under similar contractual arrangements in April.Furthermore, an Independent Review of Royal Family and Ministerial Air Travel headed by Sir Peter Gershon is currently under way.

Secondary information