HC Deb 24 October 1994 vol 248 cc495-6W
Mr. Kirkwood

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish the guidance given regarding avoidance procedures to pilots operating in low flying or ultra-low-flying regimes when training over geographically prominent secondary schools.

Mr. Soames

No specific guidance on avoidance procedures is given to pilots when training in the vicinity of schools. However, pilots are instructed to avoid flying over major conurbations and towns and to avoid all other populated areas wherever possible, whether they are listed for avoidance or not. In tactical training areas, pilots are instructed, if possible, to avoid all buildings likely to be occupied by people when conducting operational low flying.

Mr. Kirkwood

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if pilots are permitted to use geographically prominent secondary schools as low flying targets during low-level training flights.

Mr. Soames

Schools do not feature on lists from which targets for simulated toss and dive attacks must be selected. Aircrews are instructed that targets for simulated level attacks are to be selected with consideration for nearby habitation, thereby ruling out the choice of schools.

Mr. Kirkwood

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will estimate the number of low-flying

1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994
Arrested 245 641 619 151 30 21 3
Charged 175 108 88 11 6 5 —
Convicted 87 35 49 5 4 3 —
Acquitted 11 — 16 — — — —

Mr. Madden

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is taking to review military land byelaws at HMS Forest Moor, at Menwith Hill and at sorties which have passed within a five-mile radius of Berwickshire high school in Duns during the last 12 months.

Mr. Soames

The information is not held in the form requested.

Mr. Kirkwood

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what criteria would have to be satisfied in order to secure a permanent low flying exclusion zone around a secondary school in a geographically prominent position in a low flying practice zone.

Mr. Soames

Many schools are located in areas such as large towns where low flying is not practised. It is our policy not to grant avoidances for schools in other areas where routine low flying takes place. To do otherwise would concentrate the activity on neighbouring communities and would have an unacceptable impact on our ability to meet essential training needs.

Mr. Kirkwood

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence is he will make an official visit to Berwickshire high school in Duns in order to explain Her Majesty's Government's policy regarding low overflights of secondary schools in prominent positions in low flying practice zones.

Mr. Soames

There is no specific policy regarding low flying overflights of secondary schools in prominent positions in low flying practice zones. Our policy on low flying was explained to staff and parents at Berwickshire High School by the RAF regional community relations officer for the Borders when he visited the school on 11 May, and my noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence responded in his letter of 22 July to further concerns raised by the clerk of the school.