§ Brigadier-General CLIFTON BROWNasked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether his attention has been called to the loss and damage to valuable stock by low-flying aeroplanes on manœuvres last year; and whether he will in future cause notices to be issued to stock owners so that they can shut up their in-calf mares and cows in any area where low flying may take place and compensate them for unavoidable damage?
§ Mr. MONTAGUEThe Royal Air Force regulations prohibiting low and dangerous flying contain a special warning to avoid flying low over stock during the breeding season, and these orders are very strictly enforced. The hon. and gallant Member will appreciate that the rules have necessarily to be relaxed in certain respects under the special conditions of the annual air exercises. Advance publicity as to the areas probably affected is, however, usually given in the Press, and very few cases of actual loss of live-stock during such exercises do in fact arise. The suggestions in the last part of the question will be borne in mind, but the issue of warning notices specially designed for the purpose in 989W question would obviously present a good deal of practical difficulty in view of the wide and ill-defined areas involved, and might only cause inconvenience to farmers out of all proportion to the actual risk.