Unidentified Flying Objects

HC Deb 08 July 1996 vol 281 c26W

Mr. Redmond

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which office within his Department deals with sightings of unidentified flying objects. [35845]

Mr. Soames

The focal point within my Department for reports of sightings of unidentified flying objects is Secretariat(Air Staff)2a.

Mr. Redmond

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list by(a) date and (b) location for the last 10 years unexplainable sightings of unidentified flying objects received by his Department; and what action was subsequently taken. [35844]

Mr. Soames

My Department evaluates reports of "unexplained" aerial phenomena solely in order to establish whether they may have any defence significance. Unless there is evidence to indicate that the UK air defence region may have been compromised, and to date no sighting has provided such evidence, my Department does not investigate or seek to provide an explanation for what was observed. The question of unexplainable sightings has not therefore arisen.