§ Mr. FoulkesTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the nature, purpose and title of the military exercise centred on Loch Trool, Galloway, in the week commencing 16 February; how many troops and aircraft took part; how many low-level sorties were carried out; and what information about the exercise was given to local Members of Parliament and the press.
§ Mr. Kenneth CarlisleExercise Hardcore took place from 10 to 21 February and was a small-scale squadron training exercise involving attacks against targets on the ground together with intercepts by air defence aircraft. The exercise involved up to 120 men and 16 aircraft. Some 140 low-level sorties were flown during the exercise; some of these involved operational low flying which was notified to Members of Parliament in the normal way.