§ Mr. Redmondasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the contingencies which the exercise at Royal Air Force Finningley on 24 to 25 March was designed to meet; whether the exercise was part of a nationwide series of exercises; whether the exercise involved members of the home service force; what steps were taken to inform local residents in advance of the exercise; and if he will list the local authority representatives informed in advance.
§ Mr. StanleyRAF stations routinely test their operational capability by means of exercises such as that held at Finningley on 24–25 March. In accordance with 385W normal practice, advance notice of this exercise was given to the local police and the residents in the immediate vicinity of the station. Only RAF personnel took part in the exercise.