§ 11. Mr. Wigleyasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will restrict the extent of armed forces helicopter manoeuvres in upland sheep rearing areas; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. FreemanWe are advised by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food that there is no evidence 969 that noise from low-flying aircraft has any harmful effect on sheep or lambs, during lambing or at other times. None the less, claims for damage or loss with appropriate supporting evidence are considered sympathetically.
§ Mr. WigleyIs the Minister aware that not only low-flying helicopters, but helicopters that land as part of their manoeuvres, have caused abortions in sheep and, therefore, unnecessary losses for farmers? Is he further aware that the RAF locally sometimes has ad hoc agreements with the farmers union to ensure the minimising of such losses? Will he encourage the development of such agreements to keep down the losses for farmers in uplands areas?
§ Mr. FreemanYes, I agree with the hon. Gentleman, and wherever there are ad hoc agreements between the RAF and landowners and farmers I encourage them. There is an adequate compensation scheme, and if the hon. Gentleman writes to me about any particular incident I shall investigate it.
§ Mr. KeyWill my hon. Friend give particular attention to the problem of heavily used training areas where helicopters are part of that training, such as the Salisbury Plain training area? May I thank him for the eternal courtesy and care with which he and his officials cope with complaints from members of the public on this issue? Will he have a word with our right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport about the need to increase controls over microlight aircraft, which are rightly gaining the reputation of being the most unlikely and unhelpful form of recreation?
§ Mr. FreemanI shall certainly convey my hon. Friend's comments to the Department of Transport.