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Written question asked by Bernard Jenkin (Conservative) on Friday, 3 October 2008, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 7 October 2008. It was answered by Bob Ainsworth (Labour) on Monday, 13 October 2008 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Helicopters: Finance

Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the annual running cost was of (a) HMS Illustrious and HMS Ark Royal, (b) one Harrier GR9, (c) HMS Albion, (d) one Lynx Mk 8 helicopter, (e) one Merlin Mk1 helicopter and (f) one RFA support tanker in each of the last three years.
Answer

The information requested is not held in the format requested. The annual running cost in 2007-08 for the surface ships identified, including depreciation and the cost of capital, was as follows:

Financial year 2007-08 (£ million)
HMS Illustrious and HMS Ark Royal ¹138
HMS Albion 38
RFA Wave Knight (support tanker) 16
¹ Total for the two ships.

Directly comparable figures for 2005-06 and 2006-07 are not available.The total cost per flying hour for the aircraft was as follows:

£
Financial year Harrier¹ Lynx² Merlin Mk1
2005-06 36,000 16,000 ³—
2006-07 37,000 16,000 40,000
2007-08 38,000 19,000 42,000
¹ The available data is not spilt between Harrier GR7 and GR9
² The available data is not split between Lynx Mk3 and Lynx Mk8
³ Directly comparable figures for this year are not available

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
480 c915W;480 c909W; 225079
Session
2007-08
Subjects
Finance Helicopters Military aircraft Warships
Link
View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk