HC Deb 10 May 1989 vol 152 cc471-3W
Dr. Thomas

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of the total number of military low-level training sorties flown over the United Kingdom in 1988 was accounted for by(a) fast jets, (b) light jet trainers, (c) heavy propeller-driven aircraft, (d) light propeller-driven aircraft and (c) helicopters.

Mr. Neubert

The information requested is as follows:

Category Proportion of sorties flown
Per cent.
Fast jets 59
Light jet trainers 9
Heavy propeller-driven aircraft 2
Light propeller-driven aircraft 1
Helicopters 29

Dr. Thomas

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the total numbers of complaints received about low flying in 1988 from addresses in(a) England, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland and (d) Northern Ireland.

Mr. Neubert

No fixed-wing low flying training is carried out in Northern Ireland. However, helicopters do undertake low-flying operations in Northern Ireland and although no central records are available of complaints received, headquarters Northern Ireland received 38 complaints in 1988. The numbers of complaints and inquiries about military low flying received by the Ministry of Defence during 1988 for the remaining areas were:

Number
England 3,955
Wales 856
Scotland 875

Dr. Thomas

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the percentage change in the number of low-level flights authorised at less than 250 ft between 1979 and 1980.

Mr. Neubert

I refer the hon. Member to the reply that my predecessor gave him on 2 November 1987 at column487.

1988. Dr. Thomas

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many low flying sorties were flown over the United Kingdom by United States F-111 and EF-111 aircraft in(a) 1987 and (b)

Mr. Neubert

United States Air Force F-111 aircraft flew 11,147 low-flying sorties during 1987 and 11,303 during 1988. Central records are not kept separately of low-flying sorties by EF-111 aircraft.

Dr. Thomas

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the number of low-flying sorties flown over the United Kingdom between the hours of 11 pm and 7 am in each year since 1979.

Mr. Neubert

The information requested is not available. Central records of night low-flying do not separately distinguish flying between the hours of 11 pm and 7 am. It is aimed to complete low-flying training before 11 pm wherever possible because it is recognised that aircraft noise can be particularly intrusive at night, and no more such activity is authorised than is necessary.

Dr. Thomas

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many low-level sorties were flown over the Federal Republic of Germany by RAF aircraft in 1988.

Mr. Neubert

Royal Air Force Germany carried out some 16,000 fixed-wing low-level sorties over the Federal Republic of Germany in 1988.

Dr. Thomas

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of the aircrew in front-line RAF Tornado strike/attack squadrons is currently authorised to fly at less than 250 ft minimum separation distance.

Mr. Neubert

I have nothing further to add to my predecessor's letter of 15 December 1987 to the hon. Member in response to his question of 2 November 1987 at column486.

Dr. Thomas

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list the names and dates of all military air exercises held in the United Kingdom since 1974 in which flying at less than 250 ft was permitted over land.

Mr. Neubert

Military air exercise held in the United Kingdom do not involve the use of the United Kingdom low-flying system for flying below a level of 250 ft over land. Exercises involving ultra-low flying, that is below this and down to 100 ft, are normally held in the United States of America and Canada. Some strictly limited work-up training for these exercises does take place in the United Kingdom but within specially designated, sparsely populated areas.

Dr. Thomas

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total number of low-flying sorties over the United Kingdom in 1988, calculated by the pre-1985 method of logging movements between low flying areas.

Mr. Neubert

The approximate total number of sorties flown, as recalculated from movements by the pre-1985 method, was 127,000.

Dr. Thomas

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of RAF Germany low-flying training activity has been carried out in the United Kingdom in each year since 1979.

Mr. Neubert

Precise figures are not available prior to 1988. It is estimated that some 20 per cent. of RAF Germany fixed-wing low-level sorties made use of the United Kingdom low-flying system in 1988.

Dr. Thomas

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total number of low-flying sorties over(a) England, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland and (d) Northern Ireland in 1988.

Mr. Neubert

I refer the hon. Member to the answer that my predecessor gave him in response to a similar question on 15 April 1988 at column249.

Dr. Thomas

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of the low-level sorties over the United Kingdom in 1988 were flown by(a) British military aircraft, (b) the United States Air Force aircraft and (c) other air forces.

Mr. Neubert

The information requested is as follows:

Operating Authority Proportion of sorties flown
Per cent.
British Military 84
United States Air Force 15
Others 1

Dr. Thomas

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what requests have been received from foreign air forces for permission to fly in the United Kingdom low-flying system at less than 250 ft minimum separation distance.

Mr. Neubert

There 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 or of any formal request having been made for such training.

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