HC Deb 23 November 1987 vol 123 cc30-2W
Dr. Thomas

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if training carried out by Royal Air Force Tornados from Goose bay, Canada, includes simulated nuclear attacks; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Freeman

Royal Air Force aircraft, including Tornados stationed at Goose bay in Canada, are flown on a wide range of training sorties to ensure that the pilots have the necessary expertise to enable them to fulfil all possible wartime roles.

Dr. Thomas

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information is being provided by his Department to the Canadian federal environment assessment review office in connection with its environmental assessment panel reviewing military flying activities in Labrador and Quebec.

Mr. Freeman

None.

Dr. Thomas

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information was provided by his Department to the Canadian Public Health Association in connection with its recent study on the health effects of increased flying activity in the Labrador area.

Mr. Freeman

My Department has provided the Canadian Public Health Association with unclassified data on noise levels of Tornado and Harrier aircraft.

Dr. Thomas

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the maximum permitted number of low-level training sorties by Royal Air Force aircraft from Goose bay, Canada, under the provisions of the February 1986 United Kingdom-United States-Federal Republic of Germany-Canada multinational memorandum of understanding on use of the facilities at Goose bay.

Mr. Freeman

There is no maximum permitted number of low-level training sorties by Royal Air Force aircraft from Goose bay, Canada, under the provisions of the February 1986 multilateral memorandum of understanding.

Dr. Thomas

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many low-level training sorties have been carried out by Royal Air Force aircraft from Goose bay, Canada, in each year since 1979; and what proportion of the total in each year was accounted for by(a) Vulcan, (b) Jaguar, (c) Harrier, (d) Tornado, (e) Buccaneer, (f) Hercules and (g) other types of aircraft.

Mr. Freeman

The number of low-level training sorties that have been carried out by Royal Air Force aircraft from Goose bay, Canada, in each year since 1979, by aircraft type, is as follows:

Proportion by aircraft type Year Total number of low level training sorties
98 per cent. Vulcan, 2 per cent. Buccaneer 1979 272
100 per cent. Vulcan 1980 263
99.6 per cent. Vulcan, 0.4 per cent. Hercules 1981 291
59 per cent. Vulcan, 40 per cent. Buccaneer, 1 per cent. Hercules 1982 127
64 per cent. Jaguar, 36 per cent. Tornado 1983 249
100 per cent. Tornado 1984 106
100 per cent. Tornado 1985 340
100 per cent. Tornado 1986 1,609
100 per cent. Tornado 11987 1,626
1 Up to 20 October.

Dr. Thomas

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the maximum permitted number of Royal Air Force aircraft to be deployed at any one time for tactical low flying training at Goose bay, Canada, under the provisions of the February 1986 United Kingdom-United States-Federal Republic of Germany-Canada multinational memorandum of understanding on the use of the facilities at Goose bay.

Mr. Freeman

Under the provisions of the February 1986 multilateral memorandum of understanding, the Royal Air Force is permitted to station up to 20 combat aircraft for flying training operations at Goose bay, Canada, at any one time. RAF transport aircraft, which transit to Goose bay in support of routine operations, are also permitted to conduct low-level training flights.

Dr. Thomas

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what changes have been made to the provisions affecting British forces in the February 1986 United Kingdom-United States-Federal Republic of Germany-Canada multinational memorandum of understanding on use of the facilities at Goose bay, Canada, since its original signing in 1986.

Mr. Freeman

None.

Dr. Thomas

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consultations have taken place with the Canadian authorities since 1986 with a view to increasing the amount of Royal Air Force low-level flying training conducted at Goose bay, Canada.

Mr. Freeman

None.