§ Mr. KennedyTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the legislative provisions and flying regulations governing the jettisoning of(a) live weapons, (b) inert weapons, (c) fuel tanks and (d) other equipment from military aircraft in flight.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonMilitary aircraft activity over the United Kingdom and surrounding waters is carried out in accordance with comprehensive joint service regulations. These prohibit the dropping of articles over land or sea except when authorised for training or operational purposes or at the discretion of the pilot when the safety of the aircraft may be seriously endangered by not doing so.
§ Mr. KennedyTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list all incidents since 1979 in which weapons, fuel tanks or other equipment have been inadvertently dropped, or deliberately jettisoned for safety reasons, from military aircraft over the United Kingdom, stating the date, location, type of aircraft and nature of the equipment dropped in each case.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonSuch detailed information is not held centrally and could not be collated without disproportionate cost and effort.