HC Deb 04 December 1990 vol 182 cc109-10W
Mr. Kirkwood

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will list the occasions since 1985 on which Shackleton aircraft have been(a) placed on standby for search and rescue operations and (b) used during search and rescue operations;

(2) what secondary roles are performed by RAF Shackleton aircraft apart from flare-dropping for search and rescue operations.

Mr. Kenneth Carlisle

we do not have records of the number of times Shackleton aircraft have been placed on standby for search and rescue (SAR) operations since 1985. the table lists the occasions since 1985 when Shackleton aircraft have been used for SRC operations:

Mr. Kenneth Carlisle

The dropping of practice bombs on the Wiley Sike air weapons range was first authorised in 1983. Since then the range has been used by the RAF for this purpose as follows:

Days
1983 4
1984 9
1985 4
1986 6
1987 4
1988 6
1989 15