Menzies Campbell – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Menzies Campbell on 2014-06-24.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the cost has been to date of all Typhoon Force-related capital works at RAF Lossiemouth; and what estimate he has made of the total cost of facilitating the future operation of the Typhoon Force and the Northern Quick Reaction Alert facility at that base.

Mr Mark Francois

By the end of financial year 2013-14, approximately £17 million had been spent on Typhoon-related works at Lossiemouth. The estimated capital costs for facilitating Typhoon Force-related operations, including the Northern Quick Reaction Alert facility, at RAF Lossiemouth is anticipated to be some £87 million.

The Basing Review, which was announced in July 2011, assessed what was best for Defence as a whole. This followed the Strategic Defence and Security Review in 2010, which stated the RAF needed three not four RAF fast jet bases.

The decisions made regarding RAF Leuchars and RAF Lossiemouth were also necessary to establish a coherent plan for basing the Army following its return from Germany and the opportunity to realise receipts by disposing of high value estate, while ensuring the build-up of the Typhoon force.