§ VISCOUNT LONGMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name of the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they are aware that, on a Royal Air Force exercise starting on March 8 and held at the aerodrome of Steeple Ashton, private property was entered without permission of the owner and that considerable damage was caused; and whether Her Majesty's Government will ensure that such action will not be repeated.]
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE ADMIRALTY (LORD CARRINGTON)My Lords, during this exercise Royal Air Force helicopters used a field adjoining the airfield. I very much regret that the owner's permission was not obtained beforehand. The helicopters were to have landed on a field within the airfield boundary, but when they arrived it was found to be too soft. This in effect produced an emergency situation because they could not land on the main airfield, which was in full use by transport aircraft and Army lorries, and they did not have enough fuel to take them to another one. After the landing the station commander sought and obtained permission for the helicopters to remain on the land. Some damage was caused, and the owner has been told what are the arrangements for claiming compensation. Standing Instructions already require the permission of the owner to be obtained before landings are made on 1116 Property, expect in an emergency such as this.
§ VISCOUNT LONGMy Lords, while thanking my noble friend for his reply and for the personal interest he has taken in this case, may I ask him whether he would make inquiries as to whether it is necessary, in the interests of security in this country, to hold these exercises when the weather is so appalling? Surely they could have been postponed or cancelled. And arising out of that, has discipline become so low that the straw barn of another private owner should be raided, 4½ tons of straw stolen, and, far worse, cigarette ends found in the barn, which meant that men had been smoking? May I ask him whether he can make representations to the proper authorities to preserve discipline, even if they have to hold these manæuvres, which we believe are quite unnecessary in that part of Wiltshire, under 'these appalling weather conditions? Lastly, may I ask him whether he would make inquiries why the Royal Air Force or the Minister do not maintain two-thirds of the road which leads into this aerodrome which they are under contract to maintain and which is now becoming completely derelict and in an awful condition?
§ LORD CARRINGTONMy Lords, I will most certainly look at the two points which my noble friend has raised in his last two supplementary questions, and I will let him have an answer. With regard to the first supplementary question, about whether it is necessary to have exercises in bad weather, while no doubt it is very disagreeable for those taking part, I think we must be careful not to hold exercises only in good weather. I believe that it is good, both for the troops and also to test our equipment, that they should work in bad weather.
§ EARL ALEXANDER OF HILLSBOROUGHMy Lords, would it not be reasonable for the First Lord to make representations to the Royal Air Force over what steps they take to maintain discipline when men remain on a farm, so that they do not do damage, steal, or smoke in straw barns?
§ LORD CARRINGTONMy Lords, I have already said that I will look into that point.