Mr. Alan W. WilliamsTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what studies have been carried out on the possible cumulative effect of low flying sorties on the hearing of young infants; and if he will make a statement on their findings.
§ Mr. HanleyMy Department has not carried out specific research into the cumulative effect of low flying 729W sorties on the hearing of young infants. In 1990, however, we commissioned a study to review the available information on any possible relationship between aircraft noise and hearing loss. The review included consideration of research reports of possible hearing loss in children due to aircraft noise. A copy of the report was placed in the Library of the House—university of Southampton institute of sound and vibration research, "Risk to Hearing from Overflight Noise of Military Aircraft".
Mr. Alan W. WilliamsTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many low flying sorties have been conducted over mainland Britain for every year since 1979(a) above 250 ft, (b) between 100 and 250 ft and (c) below 100 ft.
§ Mr. HanleyThe total numbers of sorties booked in the United Kingdom low flying system—UKLFS—for each year since 1979 are as follows:
Year Number 1979 1108,860 1980 1122,851 1981 1131,841 1982 1130,313 1983 1127,683 1984 133,519 1985 141,762 1986 151,164 1987 147,661 1988 151,291 1989 144,323 1990 141,390 1991 127,400 1992 131,464 1993 119,410 1 Before 1984 sorties were not recorded, but have been estimated from the number of movements into individual low flying areas. Central records are not maintained of the heights at which low flying sorties are flown. Information is, however, available on operational low flying—OLF—which is flying by fixed-wing military aircraft below 250 ft and down to 100 ft and which may only take place in three tactical training areas—TTAs—in central Wales, northern Scotland and the borders. Details of OLF sorties are not available, but the total numbers of movements authorized into the TTAs in each year since 1979 are as follows:
Year Number 1979 787 1980 797 1981 660 1982 240 1983 1,922 1984 1,007 1985 476 1986 1,200 1987 1,386 1988 2,115 1989 2,694 1990 6,027 1991 1,814 1992 3,220 1993 3,049 The figures from 1988 onwards reflect the division of the borders TTA into east and west sectors. Movements for the two sectors were counted separately so that sorties which crossed the border between the two sectors 730W generated additional movements; this led to an overstatement of the amount of activity in comparison with earlier years. The division between the two sectors was removed in October 1993. Analysis of the figures which show OLF movements on the basis of treating the borders TTA as a single area give revised figures from 1991 onwards as follows:
Year Number 1991 1,050 1992 2,026 1993 1,874 Note: Revised figures for 1988–90 are not available.
OLF may be authorised down to a minimum level of 100 ft but records do not distinguish between movements flown below 250 ft and at 100 ft.
Mr. Alan W. WilliamsTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the total number and type of low flying exercises that have been conducted over Britain since 1979; if he will account for each significant change since 1990; and if he will describe future plans during 1994.
§ Mr. HanleyCentral records of all low flying exercises in the United Kingdom are not held. There have been no significant changes in the broad pattern of exercise activity in the United Kingdom since 1990, and none are anticipated during 1994.
Mr. Alan W. WilliamsTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much has been paid out in compensation to farmers in Wales for loss of livestock, abortion and loss of production caused by low flying aircraft during each year since 1990.
§ Mr. HanleySince 1990 the Ministry of Defence has paid out the following amounts in compensation to farmers in Wales to cover livestock-related losses caused by low flying military aircraft:
Year £ 1990 47,953 1991 59,159 1992 33,152 1993 29,999
Mr. Alan W. WilliamsTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will define the geographical area included in the central Wales tactical training area.
§ Mr. HanleyThe Welsh tactical training area comprises the south-west portion of Montgomery, the north-west corner of Brecon and Radnor, the north-east corner of Carmarthen and north Pembroke. The area, which is designated low flying area 7T, is shown on the copy of the map of the day low flying system which is available in the Library of the House.
Mr. Alan W. WilliamsTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will estimate the total number of low flying sorties that have crossed the terrain of the Carmarthen constituency (1) on average per year from 1979 to 1991, (2) during 1992 and (3) during 1993.
§ Mr. HanleyAlthough records are maintained of the total number of sorties flown in the United Kingdom low flying system, it is not possible to estimate the number of sorties flown over particular locations.
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Mr. Alan W. WilliamsTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many representations have been received by his Department against low flying aircraft during each year since 1979.
§ Mr. HanleyThe number of inquiries and complaints received by my Department about low flying in each year since 1979 are as allows:
Year Number 1979 4,004 1980 3,365 1981 4,502 1982 3,304 1983 5,164 1984 5,609 1985 4,206 1986 5,304 1987 5,695 1988 5,763 1989 8,057 1990 7,130 1991 4,846 1992 6,295 1993 5,738
§ Mr. Alex CarlileTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what form of warning is given to farmers and residents of mid and west Wales prior to Royal Air Force test flights scheduled to fly in their area at altitudes below 250 ft; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. HanleyAll low flying below 250 ft and down to 100 ft in Wales by fixed wing military aircraft takes place in the Welsh tactical training area—TTA. Each month my noble Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Defence notifies hon. Members in the areas affected of the planned usage of the TTA.
Mr. Alan W. WilliamsTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the minimum height at which low flying takes place(a) in the central Wales tactical training area, (b) in the rest of Wales and (c) in the rest of Britain.
§ Mr. HanleyFixed-wing military aircraft, except light propeller-driven aircraft, are permitted to fly to a minimum height of 100 ft in the tactical training areas in central Wales, northern Scotland and the borders. Elsewhere in the United Kingdom low flying system the minimum height is 250 ft.
Light propeller-driven aircraft are permitted to fly to a minimum height of 50 ft. There is no minimum height restriction for helicopters.