§ Mr. DhandaTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what rules govern the rights of(a) RAF and 1617W (b) US Air Force aircraft to fly over (i) nuclear power stations and (ii) residential areas; and what breaches of such rules there have been in the past six months in (A) the United Kingdom and (B) Gloucestershire. [173199]
§ Mr. IngramBoth Royal Air Force and United States Air Force aircraft operate with the same restrictions in respect of overflights of nuclear installations and residential areas. Nuclear installations are to be avoided by a radius of two nautical miles from a fixed centre-point or a height of 2,000 ft, by all types of aircraft. In respect of "residential areas" we grant avoidances in the United Kingdom military low-flying system to towns with a population of 10,000 or more, as well as everything within certain major avoidance areas. Towns granted avoidances are to be overflown at not less than 1,000 ft by helicopters, and not less than 2,000 ft by fixed wing aircraft. Since the beginning of November 2003 the following breaches of regulations have been established.
Date Place Nuclear Town UK Gloucestershire 17 November 2003 Dungeness, Kent 1— 1— 26 November 2003 Berkeley, Gloucestershire 1— 1— 8 January 2004 Bath 1— 1— 1 Breach In addition, the following alleged breaches are still under investigation.
Date Place Nuclear Town UK Gloucestershire 21 January 2004 Holmfirth, Lancashire 1— 1— 10 February 2004 Swansea 1— 1— 18 February 2004 Teignmouth, Devon 1— 1— 1 Alleged breach