§ Lord Hill-Nortonasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean on 25 January (WA 22), why the unidentified flying objects documents referred to were classified secret; whether these documents had any caveats attached to them; and what was the reason for any such caveats. [HL1808]
§ Baroness Symons of Vernham DeanOne document was classified "Secret" with a "UK Eyes Only" caveat because it contained information about the UK air defence ground environment that could be of significant value to hostile or potentially hostile states. Associated correspondence was given the same classification. Generally, however notifications of and correspondence on the subject of "UFO" sightings are unclassified.
§ Lord Hill-Nortonasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether, in line with previous ministerial commitments, they will give an undertaking not to destroy any files containing information on unidentified flying objects. [WASH]
§ Baroness Symons of Vernham DeanThe Public Records Acts of 1958 and 1967 place a responsibility on all government departments to review the records which are generated within the department, to select those which are worthy of permanent preservation and transfer them to the Public Record Office.
It was generally the case that before 1967 all "UFO" files were destroyed after five years, as there was unsufficient public interest in the subject to merit their permanent retention. However, since 1967, given the general levels of public and occasional academic interest, it has been Ministry of Defence policy to preserve "UFO" report files. There are no plans to change this policy.
§ Lord Hill-Nortonasked Her Majesty's Government:
How many unidentified flying object sightings were reported to the Ministry of Defence in 1998, 1999 and 2000. [HL1813]
§ Baroness Symons of Vernham DeanThe numbers of "unidentified flying object" sightings reported to the Ministry of Defence in 1998, 1999 and 2000 were as follows:
1998: 193 1999: 229 2000: 210