§ Lord Balfour of Inchryeasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they are aware of the nuisance caused by a helicopter at no great height circling the Kensington area for over half an hour at about 5 p.m. on 23rd May and whether this flight was authorised for some special occasion not likely to be repeated, or was a transgression of the procedures for helicopters flying over Central London.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Glenarthur)I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that between approximately 5.20 p.m. and 5.45 p.m. on 23rd May 1985 a police helicopter, operating within the relevant regulations, gave emergency assistance in support of police officers responding to an unsuccessful attempt by prisoners to escape from a prison van in Cromwell Road, London SW3.