§ Mr. CanavanTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many complaints he has received this year about low-flying military aircraft.
§ Mr. NeubertBetween 1 January and 30 June 1989 the Ministry of Defence received 3,569 inquiries and complaints about military low-flying training in the United Kingdom.
Dr. ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if his Department has obtained a copy of the United States air forces in Europe document, "USAF Tactical Fighter Low-Level Flying Training in the Federal Republic of Germany Data Book", December 1988; and what plans he has to prepare a document setting out the rationales and requirements for Royal Air Force low flying over West Germany.
§ Mr. Neubert[holding answer 10 July 1989]: My Department has a copy of this document. There are no plans to prepare a similar document covering Royal Air Force low flying over the Federal Republic of Germany.
Dr. ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) on what date the Chepstow transit area was abolished; what was the specific reason for its abolition; and if he will list the parliamentary constituencies over which low flying is newly permitted, or within which the area available for low flying is extended, as a result of this measure;
(2) on what date that part of the London/Thames Valley avoidance area between Aylesbury and Chippenham and between Reading and Banbury was abolished; what was the specific reason for its abolition; and if he will list the parliamentary constituencies over which low flying is newly permitted, or within which the area available for low flying is extended, as a result of this measure.
§ Mr. Neubert[holding answers 10 July and 20 July 1989]: It is not our practice to publish detailed information on the United Kingdom low-flying system. As part of the continuous monitoring of the United Kingdom low-flying system, however, a programme of reviews of avoidance areas is carried out and changes made when necessary, reflecting changes on the ground, and aimed at spreading low flying more evenly and enhancing flight safety, while at the same time reducing, where possible, the disturbance to those on the ground.
Dr. ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of low-level training flights are flown at night; what changes in this proportion have occurred since 1979; and what definition of night is used in compiling this figure.
§ Mr. Neubert[holding answer 10 July 1989]: It is estimated that night low-flying training continues to 1032W account for some 5 per cent. of military low flying training activity in the United Kingdom. I have nothing further to add to my predecessor's answer of 10 November 1987 to the hon. Member at column 38.
Dr. ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many low-level sorties were flown over the United Kingdom in each year since 1985 by United States Air Force aircraft from units not based in this country;
(2) how many Skyguard radar systems are to be employed on low-flying monitoring duties; and on what date they are due to enter service in this role;
(3) how many sorties were flown in the United Kingdom low-flying system by F16 aircraft in each year since 1985;
(4) how many sorties were flown in the United Kingdom low-flying system by (a) F-104, (b) Hunter, (c) Canberra, (d) Lynx, (e) Gazelle, (f) Sea King, (g) Puma, (h) Wessex, (i) Chinook, (j) Hercules, (k) Dominie, (l) Jet Provost, (m) Hawk, (n) Jaguar, (o) Buccaneer, (p) Harrier, (q) Phantom, (r) Tornado and (s) A-10, aircraft in each year since 1985;
(5) if a quota system, specifying a maximum number of aircraft permitted to operate in a specific low-flying area, is in operation in the United Kingdom low-flying system; and if he will make a statement;
(6) if he will list the categories of information required to be provided by military aircrew to Royal Air Force West Drayton when booking in to the United Kingdom low-flying system;
(7) if the low-flying regulations permit military pilots to fly their aircraft at speeds greater than 450 knots in order to catch up with other aircraft when changing or re-establishing formations at low-level;
(8) on how many occasions in 1988 Royal Air Force police covert monitoring of low-flying in the United Kingdom detected breaches of low-flying regulations;
(9) what agreements have been reached with the West German authorities since 30 January on reductions in the number of Royal Air Force low-level flights over West Germany;
(10) what information he can provide on the number of sorties flown at low level by United States Air Force aircraft, broken down by aircraft type;
(11) what is the minimum distance from the coast of Britain at which low flying over the sea at 100 ft minimum separation distance is authorised;
(12) what low-level air training activity was carried out at weekends over the Wash between 6 May and 25 June; and how many and what types of aircraft took part;
(13) what means are used by aircrew of military aircraft operating in the United Kingdom low flying system to advise Royal Air Force West Drayton when remaining within a low flying area beyond the booked period;
(14) what proportion of fixed-wing low flying at less than 250 ft over the United Kingdom in 1988 consisted of aircrew continuation training;
(15) what was the total number of complaints received about low-flying military aircraft in each month from January 1989 onwards; and how many of these came from addresses in (a) England, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland and (d) Northern Ireland;
(16) what was the total number of low-flying sorties over the United Kingdom in each month from January 1989 onwards;
1033W(17) what, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Meirionnydd Nant Conwy of 10 July, Official Report, column 386, are the normal and long-standing arrangements applicable to public records in the Ministry of Defence referred to;
(18) why it is not Her Majesty's Government's practice to release detailed information about the United Kingdom low flying system;
(19) how many air misses involving British military aircraft were reported over the Federal Republic of Germany in each year since 1985;
(20) how many air misses involving military aircraft operating in the night low-flying system were reported for the period 1 June 1988 to 9 October 1988, inclusive.
§ Mr. NeubertI shall write to the hon. Member.