B52 Bombers (Hansard, 15 February 1991)

§ Miss Emma Nicholson
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will ensure that unexploded bombs discharged into the Bristol channel by returning B52s from Iraq will be positioned sufficiently far from the north Devon coastline to cause no injury or trauma to people or animals on land or at sea.

§ Mr. Archie Hamilton
There are no agreed arrangements for B52 aircraft returning from Iraq to discharge unexploded bombs into the Bristol channel. However, as I indicated in the House on 13 February at columns 849–52, an established military danger area off Hartland Point seaward of the Bristol channel has been activated full time, to be used in the unlikely event that a B52 from RAF Fairford encountered an emergency shortly after take-off which required it to jettison its weapons. Appropriate notices to mariners and airmen have been issued, and every step would be taken in an emergency to ensure that there was no risk to other aircraft, shipping or people.

§ Mr. Flynn
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what instructions the United States Air Force has given to the crews of B52 bombers on dropping unused bombs within United Kingdom territorial waters.

§ Mr. Archie Hamilton
B52 aircrews have been instructed that, in the unlikely event of an emergency after take-off from RAF Fairford which makes it necessary to jettison their weapons, they must declare an emergency on the radio frequency in use and then proceed, under air traffic control, to the established military danger area off Hartland Point. Before jettisoning ordnance the aircrew must ensure by the use of radar and visual checks that the area is clear of shipping and other aircraft, and must fully avoid the island of Lundy.

§ Mr. Flynn
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what advice he has given to seafarers using the Bristol channel of the possible danger of damaged B52 bombers dropping their unused bombs.

§ Mr. Archie Hamilton
A radio navigation warning has been issued advising that the possibility of aircraft jettisoning weapons exists within an established military danger area to the west of Hartland Point and that warnings to leave the area may be issued at short notice on VHF radio. Action has been taken to ensure that this information is relayed to all seafarers who may use the area.