HC Deb 17 November 1987 vol 122 c466W
Mrs. Margaret Ewing

To 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. Freeman

Low-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 Ewing

To 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. Freeman

No. It is our policy to spread low flying training as widely and evenly as possible throughout the United Kingdom low-flying system.