§ Mr. RogersTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions Tornado F3 aircraft have intercepted Soviet military aircraft that have penetrated the United Kingdom's air defence region.
§ Mr. Ian StewartNone, as yet.
§ Mr. RogersTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether any Backfire, Blinder or Fencer aircraft have been detected or intercepted in the United Kingdom air defence region; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Ian StewartIt is not our practice to give details of penetrations into the United Kingdom air defence region68W by Soviet military aircraft, or of their interception by Royal Air Force aircraft. However, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for the Western Isles (Mr. Macdonald) on 14 December 1987 at column 412.