(DEFENCE AND EXTERNAL AFFAIRS SUB-COMMITTEE)
11 February, 1975.]
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Answer (i) The size of the reduced force has been determined by Priority I war commitments, which the force will be able to meet within the pres- cribed timescales.
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(ii) In its peacetime role the RAF force is supplemented by a civil contract with Britannia Airways for the routine air trooping task between UK and Germany. In addition, there is an agreement with British Airways for the use of spare capacity on flights to USA, and to a lesser extent the Middle and Far East, under a rebated fare scheme. Use of this facility may reduce as our overseas presence diminishes. Should the RAF force be unable to meet all its peace- time defence tasks, resort to ad hoc civil charter can be made. This has rarely occurred even during the Cyprus emergency of 1974 when heavy abnormal demands were made on the force. Even at the reduced level, the force will retain a substantial capability; in terms of seat capacity it is nearly 5,000.
Question 1B Does the Ministry of Defence possess any mandatory power to requisition civil aircraft?
Answer (i) The Secretary of State for Defence has powers under the Air Force Act or the Civil Aviation Act 1949 to requisition civil aircraft when it appears to him that the public interest so requires.
(ii) For the nationalised airlines only, the Secretary of State for Trade has powers under the Air Corporations Act 1967 to take over the whole or any part of the Nationalised Air Corporations in an emergency.
(iii) Allocation of the additional air transport capacity made available under these powers would be decided by a committee formed of representatives drawn from the Departments of Trade and of the Environment, the Foreign and Commonwealth and Home Offices and the Ministry of Defence. Among the responsibilities of this Com- mittee would be that of determining priorities in the event of conflict- ing requirements.
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Otherwise in peacetime, given the substantial capa- city we shall retain, the flexibility that arises from the ability to shed or delay routine tasks and the support we expect to obtain from civil carriers under normal commercial arrangements, it should still be practicable to respond effectively to emergencies involving substantial air movement. Accordingly, the powers of direction available to the Government are regarded as an insurance which is unlikely to be invoked in peacetime except in extreme circumstances.
Question IC How is mobility affected by the lesser versatility of civil as opposed to military air force transport?
Answer As stated in preceding paragraphs, in a major emergency military trans- port aircraft would be used for their primary purpose and it is here that the flexibility is required. All aircraft of the reduced transport force are capable of carrying troops, ammunition, vehicles and stores and all are capable of being used for casualty evacua- tion. The use of civil aircraft to replace or supplement RAF resources would be primarily for the movement of passengers and their baggage.
Question ID Are there any plans to share transport facilities on a Eurogroup basis?
Answer (i) A NATO sub-committee is studying the peacetime use of available
NATO military airlift capacity. The most likely first step is an agreement, similar to that already in operation between the RAF and the USAF, whereby spare capacity could be made available to allies on specified flights. It is unlikely that any exchange arrange- ment would be on a large scale. In time of war, logistics are a
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