He said five, not six
Here's the actual minuted evidence in question, relevant bit in bold...
Q287 Mrs Moon: We have agreed that a squadron has an unspecified number of
planes—between 10 and 16. We have now got only seven fast-jet combat squadrons.
Can you break that down for us?
Air Marshal Hillier: In terms of the types of aircraft?
Mrs Moon: Yes.
Air Marshal Hillier: At the moment, we have four Typhoon squadrons and three
Tornado squadrons.
Mrs Moon: So four Tornados—
Air Marshal Hillier: Four Typhoon and three Tornado.
Q288 Mrs Moon: Can you break that down into the number of aircraft?
Air Marshal Hillier: I couldn’t tell you how many aircraft are in each of those
squadrons at the moment. I would need to go away and talk to the Air Force. It
averages out at about 12 to 14, I think, but I would need to check to give you the
exact number.
Q289 Mrs Moon: So we do not know exactly how many we have now. Do we know
exactly how many we will have in Future Force 2020?
Air Marshal Hillier: In terms of the numbers of aircraft or the numbers of
squadrons?
Q290 Mrs Moon: The number of fast-jet combat squadrons and the number of planes
that will be flying.
Air Marshal Hillier: We expect that in 2020 we will have increased to five
Typhoon squadrons, and by that stage we will have one F-35 squadron. The
Tornado will be out of service.Q291 Mrs Moon: This inquiry is looking at Future Force 2020. We need to have on
the record that we do not know how many planes we have now, but we do have an
idea of how many squadrons we will have in 2020.
Air Marshal Hillier: I know the number of squadrons. It is not that we do not have
an idea of the number of aircraft. All I am saying is that I do not know right now
how many aircraft are in those individual squadrons, but I can go away and provide
you with that answer. It is straightforward.