§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the exercise of F111 aircraft of the United States Air Force, normally based at Cannon air force base, New Mexico, at Boscombe Down airfield, Wiltshire, including exercise name, duration, number of aircraft involved and details of similar exercises in 1980, 1983 and 1986.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonThe exercise referred to is Coronet Diamond. I will write to the hon. Member with the further details that he requests.
§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if his answers regarding deterioration of safety margins and reduced manoeuvrability of F111 aircraft on take off from RAF Upper Heyford apply to the EF-111 aircraft stationed there.
§ Mr. NeubertConcern about declining safety margins which led to the change of flight paths at RAF Upper Heyford in June 1988 arose in relation to the Fl11E aircraft stationed at the base. However, for reasons of safety and air traffic control, all aircraft at the base now use the modified take-off pattern.