HC Deb 29 October 1987 vol 121 cc400-2W
Mr. Wray

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the different parts of the territory of the United Kingdom which are affected by low-flight exercises.

Mr. Freeman

Since the introduction of the revised United Kingdom low-flying system in 1979, all parts of Great Britain have, in principle, been open to low-flying aircraft, the aim being to spread the activity as widely and evenly as possible. To reduce disturbance on the ground, however, aircraft avoid overflying major population centres, and, for safety reasons, civil air traffic zones. Major low-flying exercises also take place throughout Great Britain, although many tend to be centred on military ranges or training areas.

Mr. Wray

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many low-flight exercises the Royal Air Force carried out over United Kingdom territory for each year since 1975.

Mr. Freeman

The numbers of military low-level training sorties flown in the United Kingdom since 1975 are as follows:

Number
1975 78,000
1976 77,700
1977 76,000
1978 76,000
1979 108,860
1980 122,850
1981 131,840
1982 130,310
1983 128,000
1984 133,500
1985 141,760
1986 151,160
1987 1113,405
1 Up to 30 September.

Approximately 82 per cent. of these involved United Kingdom military aircraft; 70 per cent. involved RAF aircraft.

Mr. Wray

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the average cost of each low-flight exercise since 1975.

Mr. Freeman

The cost of a low-level flight varies according to the duration of the flight, the aircraft type and the sort of training involved. Major exercises are only part of our low-flying training programme and are not costed separately. The figures requested could not be produced without disproportionate effort.

Mr. Wray

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the average duration of low-flight exercises over populated parts of United Kingdom territory.

Mr. Freeman

The average duration of a low-level flying training sortie is approximately 45 minutes during which time a distance of around 400 miles may be covered. Aircrew are instructed to avoid overflying the centres of main built-up areas but cannot always avoide overflying the outskirts of such areas, or other smaller settlements. These instructions apply both to day-to-day training and major low-flying exercises.

Mr. Wray

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many civilians affected by human or property loss due to accidents of low-flight operations have pending claims for damages from his Department; and if he will detail how long such claims have awaited a decision.

Mr. Freeman

No civilian has a claim pending in respect of human loss but 20 have claims outstanding for property damage. Two arise from a crash in December 1984, five from two crashes in December 1986 and the remainder from crashes earlier this year.

Mr. Wray

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will instruct the commanding officers in charge of low-flight operations to consult local authorities and local communities about the scale, frequency and timing of such exercises.

Mr. Freeman

There is no need to issue new instructions: all use of the United Kingdom low-flying system is already regulated carefully in order to minimise any disturbance to those on the ground. Where major low-flying exercises are concerned, it is our policy to give advance warning to hon. Members whose constituencies will see additional low-flying activity, as well as to the local press and local organisations such as the National Farmers' Unions.

Mr. Wray

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many people have been killed, injured or had their property damaged or destroyed as a consequence of low-flight exercise accidents; and how many of these were civilians;

(2) how many low-flying exercise accidents occurred for each year since 1975; where they took place; and what was the population for each of the areas affected by such accidents.

Mr. Freeman

Information prior to 1979 is not readily available. Since 1 January 1979, 11 Royal Air force personnel have died and a further seven Royal Air force personnel have suffered major injuries as a result of the following accidents on land in the United Kingdom involving low-flying operations by fast jet aircraft.

Date Location
6 July 1979 Tintagel, Cornwall One major injury
23 November 1979 Central Scotland One fatality
10 December 1979 Lumsden, Aberdeenshire One fatality and one major injury
12 February 1980 Isle of Skye One fatality
18 November 1981 Lock Luichart, Ross One fatality
13 May 1982 Near Aberystwyth, Wales One major injury
24 June 1983 Near Ramsey, Isle of Man Two fatalities
12 July 1984 Near Sheringham, Norfolk One major injury
7 October 1985 Alston, Cumbria One fatality
7 January 1986 Aysgarth, North Yorkshire Two major injuries
17 June 1987 Near Keswick, Cumbria One fatality
24 June 1987 Buillh Wells, Wales One fatality

Date Location
27 July 1987 Fadmoor, North Yorkshire One major injury
26 August 1987 Near Aberystwyth, Wales Two fatalities

Two civilians sustained minor injuries as a result of the accident on 6 July 1979. There have been no civilian fatalities. All of these accidents occurred in sparsely populated areas. Resulting claims for compensation to the value of £80,804 have been settled so far, but some claims originating from recent accidents are still under consideration.

Mr. Wray

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if, after consultations with the local authorities of areas affected by low-flight exercises, he will instruct the commanding officers in charge of such operations to reduce to a minimum such flights and to conduct them at the hours of the day or night at which they are likely to cause the minimum of inconvenience to the people affected by them;

(2) what specific instructions exist about the time of the day or night in which low-flight operations are conducted in case they affect populated areas of the United Kingdom.

Mr. Freeman

Every effort is already made to minimise the disturbance caused by this essential activity as far as possible, commensurate with our training needs and safety considerations. Most low-flying training takes place on weekdays between 7 am and 11 pm. Only a small amount of activity takes place outside these hours and this is strictly limited.