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<p>The use of the P-8 Poseidon Maritime Patrol Aircraft in the US is predominantly
limited to those personnel embedded with the US Navy as part of the Seedcorn Initiative.
The Seedcorn programme in the US on P8 aircraft started in 2012 with 20 personnel
involved and has remained at 20 for each subsequent year (allowing for minor fluctuations
during transitory periods).</p><p> </p><p>Outside of the Seedcorn Initiative, the
total number of RAF personnel embedded with US forces over the past six years is as
follows:</p><p> </p><p>2010 - 52</p><p>2011 - 52</p><p>2012 - 48</p><p>2013 - 49</p><p>2014
- 46</p><p>2015 - 47</p><p>2016 – 46</p><p> </p><p>Once personnel are embedded with
another nation the RAF retains no command relationship with those personnel. Therefore,
information on training exercises undertaken is not held.</p><p> </p><p>With respect
to operational deployments, I refer the hon. Member to the written ministerial statement
made by the Defence Secretary on 17 December 2015: (Official Report, column 98WS)
where he provided data on the UK Service personnel embedded in other nations' armed
forces and deployed on or in support of operations. This will be updated in the next
Ministry of Defence Annual Report and Accounts. Information specific to RAF personnel
is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.</p><p>
</p><p>Information on whether any of these deployments involved the P-8 aircraft is
not available. However, I am able to confirm that one of the US embed posts does involve
flying the P-8A outside of the Seedcorn Initiative.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>
</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p>
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