§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what factors led his Department's personnel to donate a tour of RAF Leeming to the British Field Sports Society; what guidance his Department issues on such matters; and if he will ensure that similar tours are provided on request for groups opposed to field sports. [35222]
§ Mr. Spellar[holding answer 19 March 1998]: Visits to RAF Stations by local organisations and local residents are made generally at the discretion of station commanders. They are designed primarily to maintain and promote good relations with the local communities and to raise awareness and understanding of the Royal Air Force, and particularly of the functions of a station and the reasons why its operational activities, which can be intrusive, are nevertheless necessary. All requests for such visits should and will be judged in this overall context.
It is in this context that RAF Leeming donated a tour of the Station as a prize for a charity auction being run by a local landowner, the proceeds of which went to the British Field Sports Society.