THE UK Government must be “absolutely transparent” over its plans to give David Cameron and his senior ministers the use of a dedicated plane for long-distance journeys, according to the SNP’s Treasury spokesperson.
Stewart Hosie was speaking after the UK Government revealed it is to spend £10 million refitting an RAF aircraft that is usually used for mid-air refuelling.
Hosie – who is also the party’s deputy leader – told The National: “There needs to be absolute transparency from the UK Government, and an assurance that the best deal is made on behalf of the tax-payer.
“This announcement comes just a week before the spending review when we can expect to hear of more cuts from the Tories, which are already hitting people hard.”
SNP shadow leader of the House Pete Wishart was more forthright when he tweeted yesterday: “All aboard Dave Force 1. Bullingdon Airlines in association with Eton Jet.”
Details of the plan will be announced on Monday, but ministers have already said it will save the taxpayer up to £775,000 a year on the cost of ministerial flights because it will avoid the use of costly charters.
A UK Government spokesman said: “We have been looking at ways to make better use of the RAF fleet to transport senior ministers and consequently deliver savings for taxpayers.
“This is about saving taxpayers’ money.
“There will be upfront costs but by using a refitted RAF Voyager instead of chartering private aircraft for each long-distance trip, we will save taxpayers around £775,000 a year.”
However, Downing Street is likely to face criticism over the proposals, which come before chancellor George Osborne’s spending review which will see severe cuts across Whitehall departments.
Dave Force One, or Camcorde, as the plans have been dubbed, will cost less than Tony Blair’s plans for ‘Blair Force One’.
This involved the purchase of two private jets for use by the prime minister and the royal family at an estimated cost of £100m.
Blair’s plans were blocked by the then chancellor Gordon Brown, and were later abandoned when Brown became Prime Minister.
Tories criticised the idea saying it was the “wrong moment to be splashing out taxpayers’ money on funding the government to travel in style”.
Cameron and senior ministers currently use Queen’s Flight, known as 32 (The Royal) Squadron, for short haul trips. Commercial flights are chartered for long haul journeys.
Whitehall sources said the cost of long-haul charter flights can be excessive as they are often arranged at short notice.
The government spent more than £100,000 at the beginning of this year sending Cameron to Saudi Arabia following the death of its king.
Running the converted RAF Voyager is expected to cost around £2,000 an hour, compared to the current average travelling costs of £6,700 an hour.
The royal family will also be offered the use of the flight, and it will return to military refuelling duties when it is not required either by the royals, or Cameron.
Sources said the aircraft would have the additional benefit of offering secure communications and “defensive aids” in hostile areas.
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