Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of current availability of tank transporters for the armed forces.

Harriett Baldwin, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State and Minister for Defence Procurement: Heavy Equipment Tank Transporter (HET) capability is provided through a Private Finance Initiative project with Fasttrax (a joint venture company). The initiative provides the Ministry of Defence with 89 HET trains (tractor units and trailers) on pre-defined levels of availability.

We do not routinely comment on the specific availability of equipment as disclosure would, or would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the Armed Forces.

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