Written question asked by Peter Duncan (Conservative) on Tuesday, 29 October 2002, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 4 November 2002. It was answered by Lord Moonie (Labour) on Monday, 4 November 2002 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Ministry of Defence

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many low flying training sorties have been flown over Dumfries and Galloway by the RAF in each of the last five years. - Includes table.

Answer: Mr. Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many low flying training sorties have been flown over Dumfries and Galloway by the RAF in each of the last five years. [78738] Dr. Moonie: Information on military low flying training in the United Kingdom low flying system is recorded for each low flying area (LFA) in the form of number of hours booked for the aircraft of all three services. Data for Dumfries and Galloway are incorporated in the total for LFA 16, which also includes the Borders region of southern Scotland and other countries up to and including those within the central belt. Figures quoted in the table indicate the number of hours low flying training has been booked by day and night in the LFA over the last five years. _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Total Fixed-wing Helicopters Calendar year 1997 4,023 3,455 568 1998 3,680 2,946 734 1999 3,544 2,843 701 Training year 1 1999-2000 3,408 2,830 578 2000-01 3,735 2,939 796 2001-02 4,080 3,279 801 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. 1 From 1999, recorded by training year from 1 April to 31 March Note: The figure for 2001-02 is some 13.5 per cent. lower than that recorded for 1995.

Secondary information