§ Mr. Bishopasked the Minister of State for Defence how many reports of unidentified flying objects were received for each year since 1967, categorised into numbers of satellites, debris, balloons, celestial objects, meteorological and natural phenomena, &c.; how many were shown to have a natural explanation; what action his department takes to monitor UFOs; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. KershawAll reports of sightings of unidentified flying objects received from Service and civilian sources alike are studied for any possible air defence implications. Reports received in the period 1967 to 1972 are considered to have originated in the following ways:
number of low-level flights by military aircraft per million people in (a) Wales and (b) Great Britain as a whole in 1972.
§ Mr. Kershaw2,980 and 2,070 respectively.
§ Mr. Elystan Morganasked the Minister of State for Defence if, in view of the heavy concentration of low-level flights by military aircraft over Wales in the last 12 months, he will undertake to have the volume of these flights reduced by 50 per cent.
§ Mr. KershawNo. There has been no unusual concentration of low-level flying over Wales.