§ Mr. WilsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many complaints about low flying were received by his Department in each year since 1979 from addresses in the Cunninghame, North constituency.
§ Mr. NeubertFigures prior to 1986 are not available but since then, according to available records, the Ministry of Defence has received a total of 13 complaints or inquiries about military low flying from addresses in the Cunninghame, North constituency. These are as follows:
Year Number of complaints/enquiries 1986 3 1987 6 1988 to 31 October 4
§ Mr. WilsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if the Gazelle AH 1 helicopter, serial number XZ328, operated by the Army Air Corps, was authorised to operate in low flying area 14 on 5 May; and what information he has on its routing;
(2) if the Lynx AH 1 helicopter, serial number ZX614, operated by 3 Commando Brigade Air Squadron, Royal Marines, was authorised to operate in low flying area 14 on 5 May; and what information he has on its routing;
(3) if he will make a further statement on the outcome of the inquiry into the incident involving a helicopter and a civilian car near Dalmally, Argyll on 5 May.
§ Mr. NeubertI assume that the hon. Gentleman's questions all refer to allegations from the hon. Member for Dewsbury (Mrs. Taylor) about an incident involving a helicopter and a civilian car in the Tyndrum area on 5 May. During our investigations, the hon. Lady estimated the time of the incident to be between 3.45 and 4.15 pm. These investigations, as reported by my predecessor in his letter to the hon. Gentleman of 10 August 1988 confirmed that no military helicopters were operating in the Tyndrum area during this period. The Royal Marines 3rd Brigade Air Squadron Lynx AH 1 helicopter, serial number ZX614, referred to by the hon. Gentleman, landed near the Kyle of Lochalsh at around 12.55 pm, and remained on the ground for the rest of the day. The Army Air Corps Gazelle AH 1 helicopter, serial number XZ328, similarly referred to, passed some miles west of Dalmally at around 3 pm and landed at HMS Gannet at 3.30 pm. At 3.48 pm it departed and flew south to RAF Church Fenton, landing at 4.58 pm. I have nothing further to add to my predecessor's letter of 6 December.
§ Mr. WilsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will list those medical establishments on the Island of Arran over which military low flying is prohibited;
(2) what advice is given to military pilots concerning low-level flying over Lochranza, Arran;
364W(3) what advice is given to military pilots concerning low-level flying over Lamlash, Arran;
(4) what advice is given to military pilots concerning low-level flying over Brodick, Arran.
§ Mr. NeubertMilitary aircraft are instructed not to overfly major conurbations at low level. Unfortunately it is not possible to avoid many smaller centres of population, although pilots will do so if possible. It is not our practice to release details of the United Kingdom low flying system.
§ Mrs. Margaret EwingTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what was the total number of low-level terrain-following radar flights in the Highlands restricted area in each year since 1980; and how many of these were flown by(a) RAF Tornados, (b) RAF Hercules, (c) US Air Force F-111s, (d) US Air Force RF-4Cs, (e) US Air Force MC-130Es and (f) other specified types of aircraft;
(2) how many low-flying aircraft movements took place in low-flying area 14 in each year since 1979;
(3) how many low-flying aircraft movements took place in low-flying area 14 (T) in each year since 1979.
§ Mr. NeubertIt is not our practice to publish detailed information about activity in specific low-flying areas. However, the Highlands of Scotland currently experience only a small percentage of the total low-flying activity in the United Kingdom, in comparison with its overall size as a proportion of the United Kingdom low-flying system.
§ Mrs. Margaret EwingTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list all the areas in the United Kingdom where instrument low flying using terrain-following radar is permitted.
§ Mr. NeubertAt present instrument low flying using terrain-following radar is only permitted in the Highlands restricted area.
§ Mrs. Margaret EwingTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence between which hours, and on which days of the week, low flying using terrain-following radar is normally permitted in the highlands restricted area; and if such flying has every been authorised outside those hours.
§ Mr. NeubertLow flying using terrain-following radar is only permitted in the Highlands restricted area between the hours of 1500 and 2300 Mondays to Thursdays, Scottish public holidays excepted. I am not aware of any such flying having ever been authorised to take place outside these hours.
§ Mrs. Margaret EwingTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he has taken to ensure that foreign military pilots have read and understood the relevant sections of joint services publication 318 and the United Kingdom military low flying handbook prior to being authorised to fly in the United Kingdom low flying system.
§ Mr. NeubertPermission for foreign military pilots to fly in the United Kingdom low flying system is conditional on their receiving a comprehensive face to face briefing by a qualified British Forces or USAF officer. This briefing would cover, inter alia, relevant sections of joint services publication 318 and the United Kingdom military low flying handbook.
§ Mrs. Margaret EwingTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many local public meetings to explain the 365W reasons for military low flying have been held in Scotland by his Department since 1979; and if he will list the location and date of each such meeting.
§ Mr. NeubertAccording to available records, the Minister of Defence has held the following public meetings on low flying in Scotland since 1979:
Location Date Inverurie, Grampian 12 January 1980 Newton Stewart, Strathclyde 8 July 1980 Dingwall, Highland 18 May 1982 Ullapool, Highland 19 May 1982 Tain, Highland 20 May 1982 Jedburgh, Borders 5 June 1985 Kelso, Borders 6 June 1985 Duns, Borders 6 June 1985 Galashiels, Borders 30 June 1987 Perth, Tayside 15 June 1988
§ Mr. KirkwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent representations he has received from members of the public about the effect of low flying in the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. NeubertBetween 1 October and 30 November 1988 the Ministry of Defence received 744 inquiries or complaints about military low-flying training in the United Kingdom.