§ 157. Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Defence what are the wastage rates of Army recruits into Irish regiments at the 26-week, 52-week, and 104-week stages, respectively.
§ Mr. William RodgersThe wastage rates of Army recruits into Irish regiments at the 26, 52 and 104 week stages for the financial year 1973–74 are as follows:
training from these stations in their immediate neighbourhood would be both hazardous and environmentally damaging in view of the very high level of activity that would result. Moreover, East Coast terrain does not by itself provide the variety which operational training demands.
§ Sir A. Meyerasked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will impose a numerical limitation on the number of RAF aircraft permitted to fly at low altitude and high speed over populated land areas.
§ Mr. JohnLow-flying sorties are already restricted to the minimum compatible with the Services' training requirement. Uninhabited areas are by themselves not sufficiently extensive for this purpose, so that inhabited areas must be overflown as well, but restrictions govern the overflight of built-up areas.
§ Sir A. Meyerasked the Secretary of State for Defence what instructions are 255W given to RAF pilots flying at low altitudes and high speed over populated land areas.
§ Mr. JohnLow-flying training is controlled by a whole body of regulations. Among other things pilots are directed to avoid wherever possible the overflight at low level of built-up areas, and are specifically prohibited from overflying the larger centres of population. They fly at a speed and at a height which is a compromise between operational requirements and our desire to minimise disturbance.