Dr. ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list Royal Air Force participation in Maple Flag exercises in Canada since 1979, giving the number and type of Royal Air Force aircraft involved and dates of the exercise on each occasion.
§ Mr. Freeman[holding answer 4 December 1987]: The information requested is as follows:
Year Date Aircraft involved 19791 28 April—12 May 8 × Buccaneer 2 × Jaguar 19801 14 April— 7 May 8 × Harrier 19811 14 April—16 May 8 × Buccaneer 19821 14 April—17 May 8 × Harrier 19831 12 May—27 May 8 × Buccaneer 2 × Hercules 1984 28 April—26 May 8 × Harrier 1985 27 April—25 May 8 × Tornado 1986 27 April—24 May 8 × Harrier 1987 27 April—25 May 8 × Jaguar 1 Precise central records are not available for the period before 1984 although the details given above are thought to be broadly accurate.