§ Mr. SalmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will indicate for each year since 1974 the annual expenditure on defence procurement at(a) cash and (b) constant 1988–89 prices; and if he will express these figures as a proportion of the total defence budget for each year since 1974.
§ Mr. SainsburyDefence equipment expenditure is shown each year in volume 2 (table 2.2) of the "Statement of Defence Estimates" and, since 1981, it has also been shown as a percentage of total defence expenditure. Figures are not yet available at 1988–89 prices and the figures in column(c) of the table are given at Estimates 1988–89 prices. These figures have been calculated using a measure of inflation based on movements in the price of defence equipment.
(a) Financial year (b) Equipment expenditure at cash £ million (c) Column at Estimates 1988–89 prices £ million (d) Column as a percentage of defence expenditure 1974–75 1,030 5,754 31.3 1975–76 1,792 6,418 33.5 1976–77 2,138 6,306 34.7 1977–78 2,565 6,448 37.8 1978–79 2,984 6,695 40.0 1979–80 3,640 7,003 39.7 1980–81 4,885 7,924 43.7 1981–82 5,638 8,078 44.7 1982–83 6,297 8,575 43.7 1983–84 6,939 8,901 44.8 1984–85 7,838 9,441 45.8 1985–86 8,193 9,336 45.7 1986–87 7,885 8,474 43.4 1987–88 8,270 8,555 43.9
§ Mr. IngramTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what is his policy on authorising foreign air force units to fly at less than 250 ft over the United Kingdom;
(2) if any foreign air forces have been authorised to fly at less than 250 ft over the United Kingdom at any time since 1979.
§ Mr. NeubertThere are no records of foreign military aircraft having been authorised to carry out low-flying training in the United Kingdom at less than 250 ft. Any such requests to operate in a tactical training area would be considered on a case-by-case basis on their merits.
§ Mr. IngramTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what types of flying at less than 250 ft other than work-up training for Flag exercises in the United States of America and Canada take place in the Borders tactical training area.
§ Mr. NeubertTraining in the Borders tactical training area consists mainly of work-up training for operational low-flying exercises in the United States and Canada. Occasional continuation training may also be carried out to maintain aircrew skills between such exercises, thereby reducing the quantity of work-up training required.
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§ Mr. IngramTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will list the proportions of flying at less than 250 ft over the United Kingdom since 1979 which have taken place(a) between 7 am and 7 pm, (b) between 7 pm and 11 pm and (c) between 11 pm and 7 am; and what plans exist to increase the amount of such flying in the evenings and at night;
(2) if he will ban low flying at less than 250 ft between the hours of 7 pm and 7 am.
§ Mr. NeubertActivity within the three tactical training areas has been confined to the hours between 7 am and 7 pm although the vast majority takes place from mid-morning to mid-afternoon. We do not at present envisage any change in this practice or any significant increase in the requirement for low-flying training below 250 ft as a whole.
§ Mr. IngramTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) on what date sorties at less than 250 ft took place for the first time in low flying area 20 (T) west;
(2) on what date the ministerial decision was made to extend the Borders tactical training area by the creation of low flying area 20 (T) west;
(3) on what date the westward extension of the Borders tactical training area, known as low flying area 20 (T) west, was first marked on the low flying chart covering southern Scotland.
§ Mr. NeubertMinisterial approval to extend the Borders tactical training area was given in March 1988. Following that, the extension was first marked on the low flying chart which became current on 27 May 1988, and the first sorties at less than 250 ft in the new extended area took place on 29 June 1988.
§ Mr. IngramTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what date the military low flying management group first discussed proposals to create a new 100 ft low flying area in south-west Scotland.
§ Mr. NeubertThe records currently available indicate that such proposals were first discussed on 27 September 1985.
§ Mr. Menzies CampbellTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the locational requirements for the training of fighter pilots in terms of the ground facilities needed and the terrain necessary for low-flying practice.
§ Mr. NeubertI will write to the hon. and learned Member.
§ Mr. IngramTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the occasions on which flights at less than 250 ft took place over the western portion of the Borders tactical training area in 1988, giving the dates, number of sorties on each date, and types of aircraft and units involved.
§ Mr. NeubertThe information requested cannot be provided without disproportionate effort.
§ Mr. IngramTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what research is being conducted by his Department on the medical effects of exposure to the noise levels from military jet aircraft flying at 100 ft above ground level.
§ Mr. NeubertI refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my predecessor on 27 July 1988 at column350. The NATO working group on noise is expected to report on its proposals toward the end of 1989.