29/05/2007 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 24 May, the British Department of Transport sent preliminary information to the EU Official Journal (OJ) announcing that it had launched an acquisition procedure for new air services for the Royal Family and top British officials. The decision comes in the wake of the report by Sir Peter Gershon, who said services provided to date by the RAF are not appropriate for carrying ministers. The United Kingdom is the only state where the Royal Family does not have its own fleet of aircraft but uses charter flights, after the 32nd royal squadron merged with the rest of the RAF. In the press release published on Thursday, the British minister said that the new service would be safer, more reliable and would not entail additional costs for taxpayers. The opinion, to be published in the OJ at the end of the month, will be followed by a call for tenders and a detailed agenda. (aby)