HC Deb 30 April 1990 vol 171 cc429-30W
Mr. Macdonald

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the outcome of his Department's investigation of a complaint about low flying over Coll, Lewis, on 6 April 1989.

Mr. Neubert

I have nothing further to add to my letter of 19 June 1989 to the hon. Member, a copy of which has been placed in the Library.

Mr. Macdonald

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the recently reported breach of low-flying regulations over St. Kilda by two Tornado aircraft from RAF Leeming.

Mr. Neubert

In September 1989, the National Trust for Scotland complained about unauthorised low-flying military aircraft on 24 and 26 June 1989 over a bird sanctuary on the St. Kilda group of islands. Following an investigation by the Royal Air Force police, appropriate disciplinary action has been taken against the aircrews concerned.

Mr. Macdonald

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many complaints about low—flying aircraft were received by his Department in 1988 and in 1989 from addresses in the Western Isles; and how many were found to relate to aircraft operating from Stornoway airport.

Mr. Neubert

The Ministry of Defence received the following numbers of complaints or inquiries about military low flying from addresses in the Western Isles:

Number
1988 4
1989 21

Complaint records do not generally identify the operating base of the aircraft concerned, but one complaint in 1988 and two complaints in 1989 have been positively identified as relating to military aircraft operating from Stornoway airport.