Hansard 8th Mar 2012:
Q. Lord West of Spithead (Labour)
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answers by Lord Astor of Hever on 17 February (WA 194) and 14 February (WA 143-4), why the Ministry of Defence is funding a Royal Air Force Seedcorn initiative using ex-Nimrod aircrew; and what are the costs involved.
A. Lord Astor of Hever (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Defence; Conservative)
The Seedcorn initiative will sustain the UK's ability to operate high-end fixed-wing maritime patrol aviation in a range of complex operating environments by maintaining highly perishable skills, particularly in anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface unit warfare, search and rescue, and maritime intelligence, target acquisition and reconnaissance.
The approximate cost of the 33 RAF aircrew serving overseas as part of the Seedcorn initiative is £3.25 million for financial year 2011-12. This includes service pay costs, overseas allowances and travel and subsistence costs.
So that's unequivocal then - MoD to purchase 12+ MRA4 type MMA rather than squeezing 33 peeps into a Cessna Caravan.
That's what he's saying, isn't it?