Written question asked by Ben Wallace (Conservative) on Tuesday, 25 April 2006, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 2 May 2006. It was answered by Derek Twigg (Labour) on Tuesday, 2 May 2006 on behalf of the Department for Transport.

Purple Airspace

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the flights other than those used by members of the royal family which were granted Purple airspace in each year since 1997.

Answer: The configuration and promulgation of ““Purple Airspace”” ceased in 2001 in response to the terrorist attacks on 11 September 2005. Royal and selected VIP flights are now contained within the UK's existing controlled airspace structure and, as necessary, within time-limited temporary controlled airspace outside the permanent route structure.Such flights include those by members of other royal families, other reigning sovereigns, prime ministers, heads of state of commonwealth and foreign countries, and UK Members of Parliament requiring expeditious handling. The above measures are implemented by means of a Notice To Airmen (NOTAM). As NOTAM is also used to implement a number of other air traffic control procedures, and records kept are not subject specific, it is not possible to provide the hon. Member with a definitive number of royal and VIP flights that have flown within existing and temporary controlled airspace.

Secondary information