Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many VC10 aircraft 101 Squadron has; how many are in service at present; and what their commitments are. [44336]

Nick Harvey MP; Minister for the Armed Forces: 101 Squadron is the only squadron to operate the VC-10 aircraft. The number of VC-10 aircraft in the in-service fleet is 13. In-service aircraft include all bar those which are redundant, declared as surplus or awaiting disposal.

The number of VC-10 aircraft available to 101 Squadron from the in-service fleet will vary from day to day as part of normal fleet management activities including routine and mandated maintenance programmes. VC-10 aircraft operate from a number of locations around the world carrying out a range of military tasks.