§ Lord Amulreeasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether aeroplanes are permitted to overfly Buckingham Palace when the Queen is in residence or the Palace of Westminster when either House of Parliament is in session.
§ Lord CockfieldBuckingham Palace and the Palace of Westminster are situated within the London control zone. All aircraft flying within the zone are required by law to be under the positive control of the appropriate unit of the National Air Traffic Services at all times and must comply with all instructions given by the controlling authority. Subject to compliance with the air traffic control clearance, there are no restrictions on flying over the places mentioned. Aircraft are also subject to the minimum height rule which is set out in Rule 5 of theRules of the Air and Air Traffic Control Regulations 1981, a copy of which is available in the Library of the House.