§ Mr. D. E. Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Defence what assessments have been made by his Department of the environmental impact of low-flying training missions over national parks, and other areas of outstanding natural beauty in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. LeeLow flying has a limited and transitory impact on the environment. However, we appreciate that the flying is often a source of disturbance and therefore take measures to minimise the nuisance. For example, the aircraft fly higher and slower than they would have to in war, and we spread the burden as fairly as possible across the entire country, including the more sparsely populated areas such as the national parks.
§ Mr. D. E. Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he is satisfied that complaints made by members of the public to his Department about low-flying training exercises are objectively investigated; and if he will make a statement;
540W(2) if he will introduce an independent assessor to review complaints by members of the public to his Department about low-flying training exercises; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. LeeAll inquiries and complaints about low flying are dealt with by a civilian secretariat within my Department. If it is considered that investigation is required (because exceptional disturbance has been caused, or because low flying regulations may have been infringed or where a claim for compensation is made) the necessary inquiries are undertaken by the RAF police. All claims for compensation for loss, injury or damage arising from low flying are considered sympathetically. I am entirely satisfied with the objectivity of these procedures.
§ Mr. D. E. Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what was the total number of low-flying training missions which took place over land and coastal waters in the United Kingdom in each year since 1979;
(2) what was the total number of (a) Royal Air Force, (b) United States Air Force and (c) other North Atlantic Treaty Organisation aircraft which took part in low-flying training missions in the United Kingdom in each year since 1979; and what proportion of the number of low flying training missions is represented by each air force.
§ Mr. LeeThe numbers of low level training missions over the United Kingdom are as follows:
Numbers 1979 108,860 1980 122,850 1981 131,840 1982 130,310 1983 128,000 1984* 55,520 * Up to 31 May. Detailed information on the number of aircraft from each air force involved in each year cannot be provided without disproportionate effort. The proportion of low level flights undertaken in an average year is of the order of
per cent. RAF/RN/ Army 82 USAF 17 Other 1
§ Mr. D. E. Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total amount of fuel consumed on low-flying training missions over the United Kingdom in each year since 1979.
§ Mr. LeeThe Department does not maintain central records of the amounts of fuel used by RAF aircraft at particular altitudes. It would require disproportionate effort to collate the information.
§ Mr. D. E. Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Defence what is his Department's current view of the function of low-flying training missions conducted by the Royal Air Force and North Atlantic Treaty Organisation air forces over land and coastal water in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. LeeFlying at low level and high speed remains the most effective means of penetrating the ground and air defences that our aircrews would encounter in carrying out 541W their combat missions. Low flying is a very demanding skill which requires much regular and realistic training. It is therefore essential that RAF, RN and Army aircrews, as well as USAF crews based in this country, should be able to train at low level in the United Kingdom in order to maintain their high professional standards. Other NATO air forces only fly at low level over the United Kingdom on a reciprocal basis.
§ Mr. D. E. Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Defence how many complaints have been received by his Department from members of the public in each year since 1979 about low-flying missions; what was the method of investigation of these complaints; what was the average length of time spent processing a complaint; in how many cases complaints were substantiated; and in how many cases compensation was awarded to the person who complained.
§ Mr. LeeThe numbers of inquiries and complaints received about low flying are as follows:
Numbers 1979 4,004 1980 3,365 1981 4,502 1982 3,304 1983 5,164 *1984 2,081 * Up to 30 June. The method of investigation depends entirely on the nature of the complaint; many are general enquiries about the reasons for low flying and thus require no investigation at all. In an average year, there are some 2,000 investigations of varying detail.
Most inquiries are answered within a month, but, when more detailed investigation is required, the process can take longer. Because many of the letters are of a general nature and do not refer to any specific incident, no figures are maintained of the number of "substantiated" complaints. The numbers of claims paid for compensation for loss, injury or damage arising from low flying are:
Numbers 1979 114 1980 76 1981 241 1982 155 1983 132 *1984 81 * To 20 July.
§ Mr. D. E. Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Defence how many complaints about low flying training missions in the United Kingdom were made in respect of (a) Royal Air Force aircraft, (b) United States Air Force aircraft and (c) other North Atlantic Treaty Organisation aircraft, in each year since 1979.
§ Mr. LeeBecause many of the inquiries and complaints do not refer to specific incidents, this information is not available and could not be extracted without disproportionate effort.