Dr. ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what representations he has received from the West German authorities in 1988 requesting an increase in low-flying training flights over the United Kingdom by West German military aircraft;
(2) what recent communications have been received from the Federal German authorities requesting his Department to examine the feasibility of ceasing Royal Air Force low-level training flights over the Federal Republic of Germany; and if he will make a statement;
(3) what restrictions he has asked the United States Air Force to impose on flights of its F-16 aircraft over the United Kingdom pending the outcome of investigations into the two recent United States Air Force F-16 crashes in West Germany.
§ Mr. Freeman[holding answer 5 May 1988]: None.
Dr. ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what reduction has taken place in the number of low-flying training sorties conducted by the Royal Air Force over the Federal Republic of Germany since 1979; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Freeman[holding answer 5 May 1988]: I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Rhondda (Mr. Rogers) on 7 June at columns 542–43. The reduction since 1984 is approximately 15 per cent.