§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many complaints about low flying in each year since 1988 have led to an RAF police investigation being initiated; and how many of the investigations carried out in each year since 1988 have concluded that a breach of low flying regulations had occurred.
§ Mr. SoamesThe information is not available in the format requested. The table below details the total number of investigations carried out by the RAF police flying complaints flight each year from 1988 to the end of 1993; and the number of those where the police confirmed a breach of flying regulations. The 1988 figure for the latter is not available and could be produced only at disproportionate cost. It should be noted that, in addition to low flying incidents, the figures for the number of investigations include other military aircraft activity examined by the RAF police.
Year Number of RAF Police FCF investigations Number of cases in which a breach was confirmed 1988 331 not available 1989 423 43 1990 571 13 1991 411 12 1992 718 40 1993 686 47 The above figure of 47 confirmed breaches in 1993 is six more than was listed in the House of Commons Defence Committee Report, HC 314 of Session 1993–94, on low flying. Of these, three were omitted in error from the evidence provided to the Committee; in the other three cases details of the RAF police investigations were not known until after this evidence has been provided.
§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence which of the 41 low flying avoidance breaches during 1993 listed in his Department's evidence to the Defence Select Committee—HC 314 of Session 1993–94 pp. 35–36—were found by the RAF police investigation not to have been inadvertent.
§ Mr. SoamesIt is not the responsibility of the RAF police to determine whether a breach is inadvertent or deliberate. On receipt of an RAF police report, this is a matter for consideration by the commanding officer of the aircrew concerned, who will take into account the circumstances of the breach, and any factors such as bad weather or flight safety considerations which might be relevant, in determining whether disciplinary or other action is necessary.
§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the recent use of Tornado aircraft from Royal Air Force Cottesmore to perform low-level passes over a prison establishment.
§ Mr. SoamesSeveral low level passes over HM prison Stocken were made on 27 September 1994 at the request of HM Prison Service. This provided a noise distraction and assisted in resolving an incident at the prison.
§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many breaches of the Eshott avoidance area have taken place in each year since 1989; what measures have been taken to discourage microlight flying from this site on weekdays; and if he will list the measures taken906W since 1989 to reduce the incidence of breaches of this avoidance area.
§ Mr. SoamesThe numbers of confirmed breaches of.the Eshott avoidance area for each year since 1989 are.as follows:
- 1989: 0
- 1990: 0
- 1991: 2
- 1992: 8
- 1993: 3
The operating times of the airfield, and the use to which it is put, are matters for the civil operator.
In order to reduce the incidence of breaches, notices to airmen have been issued reminding military aircrews of the airfield's avoidance, which is marked on navigation charts and listed in the UK military low flying handbook. In addition, at the end of 1992, changes were made to instructions to foreign aircraft using RAF Spadeadam to ensure they avoid the airfield by a wider margin than previously.
§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the minimum authorised altitude of the flight by two Belgian air force Mirages which infringed the Sizewell power station avoidance area on 23 August 1993; and at what height the aircraft were flying at the time of the breach.
§ Mr. SoamesThe two aircraft were authorised to operate at a minimum altitude of 2,000 ft minimum separation distance; the RAF police estimated the aircraft were flying at approx 1,000 ft above ground level at the time of the breach.