HC Deb 15 March 1990 vol 169 cc331-2W
Mr. Foulkes

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many complaints about low flying were received in each month since November 1988 from addresses in (1) Scotland, (2) England, (3) Wales and (4) Northern Ireland.

Mr. Neubert

The number of total monthly inquiries and complaints received over the period 1 November 1988 to 28 February 1990 relating to military low-flying training in England, Scotland and Wales is as follows:

Month England Scotland Wales
1988
November 254 81 50
December 137 63 26
1989
January 428 78 106
February 297 90 82
March 278 75 36
April 301 55 86
May 478 132 100
June 662 167 118
July 822 186 196
August 802 143 154
September 584 179 70
October 437 165 91
November 250 160 32
December 117 61 39
1990
January 267 93 18
February 256 71 62

No fixed-wing low-flying training is carried out in Northern Ireland. However, helicopters 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 and 50 in 1989.

Mr. Foulkes

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many low-flying sorties were carried out over the United Kingdom in each month from November 1988 to the latest available date.

Mr. Neubert

The number of low-flying sorties flown in the United Kingdom in each month over the period of 1 November 1988 to 31 December 1989 is as follows:

Month Sorties
1988
November 13,105
December 9,408
1989
January 13,168
February 11,702
March 11,816
April 12,398
May 14,299
June 15,641
July 14,282
August 11,279
September 9,376
October 12,682
November 11,462
December 6,218