§ Mrs. Margaret EwingTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many low-flying sorties of below 250 ft have been conducted by Royal Air Force personnel in title Highlands and Islands of Scotland in each year since 1979.
§ Mr. FreemanLow-flying sorties have only been recorded directly since 1985. Before then, sorties were calculated from records of aircraft movements. The number of movements is given below. A sortie is approximately 2.5 movements.
Number of movements authorised for flying below 250ft in Northern Scotland Number 1979 664 1980 626 1981 601 1982 236 1983 1,616 1984 667 1985 259 1986 539 1987 1304 1 Up to 30 September 1987.
§ Mrs. Margaret EwingTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he plans any future increase in the number of Royal Air Force low-flying sorties in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. FreemanNo. It is our policy to spread low flying training as widely and evenly as possible throughout the United Kingdom low-flying system.