HC Deb 21 March 1985 vol 75 cc580-1W
Mr. Strang

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether British armed forces are placed on alert when Soviet military aircraft intrude into British airspace.

Mr. Stanley

As has been the case for many years and under successive Governments, certain RAF air defence aircraft based in the United Kingdom are held permanently at quick reaction alert in order to be able to intercept intrusions by unidentified aircraft and by Soviet military aircraft into the United Kingdom NATO air defence region, which includes United Kingdom national airspace.