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Written Answers to Questions
Wednesday 25 April 1990
ATTORNEY-GENERAL
Magistrates
Mr. Gareth Wardell : To ask the Attorney-General if he has any plans to substitute stipendiary magistrates for lay magistrates in Wales.
The Attorney-General : No. Stipendiary magistrates are appointed in order to give support to the lay magistracy not to supplant them.
Immigration Appeals (Scotland)
Mr. Sillars : To ask the Attorney-General on how many occasions the immigration appeal tribunal has sat in Scotland in each of the last five years.
The Attorney-General : None. The immigration appeal tribunal sits at its headquarters at Thanet house, London.
Mr. Sillars : To ask the Attorney-General how many persons qualified in Scottish law have sat as members of the immigration appeal tribunal in the last five years.
The Attorney-General : In the last five years none of the members of the immigration appeal tribunal has been qualified in Scottish law.
TRANSPORT
Private Street Works
107. Mr. Cryer : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the allocation of grant aid for the improvement of private street works.
Mr. Atkins : I do not give specific grant aid for the improvement of private street works. Where these are undertaken by local authorities they normally bill the frontagers, but they can meet some of the costs themselves where they consider that wider community benefits justify it.
Under section 13 of the Industrial Development Act 1982 I give grants both to private sector developers and to local authorities towards providing road access for new industrial development in assisted areas. Expenditure by a local authority on these schemes which could otherwise be rechargeable to domestic frontagers can be taken into account in assessing eligible expenditure for these grants.
Marine Radionavigation
Sir David Price : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what conclusions he has reached on the future of marine radionavigation in United Kingdom waters.
Mr. Parkinson : Following a lengthy period of public consultation and careful consideration, I have concluded
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in principle that, on technical and cost grounds, the balance of advantage for the United Kingdom would be to join the international civil Loran C system currently proposed for north-west Europe and the north Atlantic. This would be dependent on a satisfactory international agreement being reached within an acceptable time scale with the other interested states.This decision has not been an easy one. It would mean closing down in 1997 the present widely respected United Kingdom Decca navigator system, the origins of which date back to the second world war. The Decca system has been successfully operated by Racal Decca Marine Navigation Ltd. and its predecessors for several decades, and the marine community owes a considerable debt to the service, which is highly regarded.
I have had the benefit of a wide range of responses to the Department's consultative document of June 1989. Many in the marine community, here and abroad, agree that we should not be wholly dependent for marine navigation on non-European military satellite systems such as the American global positioning system (GPS) and the Soviet GLONASS system and that a terrestrial civil alternative is needed. I am satisfied that the Loran C system would meet the United Kingdom's navigational requirements to acceptable technical standards and additionally would provide more extensive cover, and be less affected by seasonal and night-time errors.
I have given particular consideration to the representations from the fishing industry, which is concerned about the costs of convering to Loran C. I fully appreciate the industry's extensive use of the Decca system for fishing as well as for navigation and I have considered the industry's points very carefully. However, if we introduce Loran C the fishing industry will gain some important benefits. Loran C's avoidance of seasonal and night skywave effects makes it a more consistent system. Moreover, a Loran C system would allow significant cost reductions, which will work through as lower light dues paid by fishermen. In the meantime I will look specifically at the light dues paid by fishermen at present, in light of representations they have made. The fishing industry will also be aware that I am currently considering a report by the British Ports Federation which recommends that pleasure craft should be brought into the light dues system so as to share the costs falling on the general lighthouse fund.
Moreover, I am determined to ensure that there is a reasonable transitional period between Loran C becoming fully available and the Decca system being switched off. Given satisfactory progress in the international negotiations, the new United Kingdom transmitter could be operating by the end of 1992 and satisfactorily validated for use in repeatable mode before the end of 1993. This would allow a transitional period of over three years to 1997 for the conversion of the fishing industry's Decca records. The final reconfiguration of the new system would be in place at the latest by January 1995. I am also satisfied that the financial considerations favour adopting the Loran C scheme. There would be an even stronger financial case for Loran C, were it not for the cost of running both systems in the transitional period. I am satisfied that the cost to users of premature replacement of receivers, while difficult to assess, is not sufficient to undermine the case for change.
My conclusion, therefore, is that the United Kingdom should not stand aside from the opportunity now offered
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for adopting a standard terrestrial regional radionavigation system under independent European control. Many countries are awaiting the United Kingdom decision before reaching their own, and in the longer term a favourable decision by the United Kingdom seems likely to increase the prospects of there being continuous Loran C cover throughout Europe, including the Mediterranean, the Iberian peninsula and the Baltic.It remains to be seen whether an acceptable Loran C international agreement can be concluded among a sufficient number of interested countries to produce a suitable international system. Our appraisal of the proposal has been on the assumption that there would be cost sharing with Canada, Denmark, the Federal Republic of Germany, France, Iceland, Ireland, the Netherlands and Norway. My officials will be making it clear to the countries involved in the international discussions that the United Kingdom will finally commit itself to a binding agreement only if the terms are right. This means that the eventually agreed system must remain a genuinely international dimension and have sufficient financial support from other benefiting countries in terms which for the United Kingdom are no worse than the current cost and cost share provisionally attributed to it. The United Kingdom's final commitment is also conditional on (a) the location of, and the obtaining of the necessary approvals for, suitable sites for the new transmitter stations needed in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland ; and (b) Parliament's approval of an order under section 34(3) of the Merchant Shipping Act 1979 to define Loran C as a beacon for the purposes of the general lighthouse fund, which would bear the United Kingdom costs. I expect to lay a draft order shortly.
The United Kingdom will also be making it clear to the other potential partners in the international agreement that our window for a decision in favour of Loran is time limited. In the event of a firm commitment to Loran C, I would wish to give the marine community about six years' notice of the ending of Decca transmissions. Under Racal Decca's current contract with the general lighthouse authorities, the system could not continue beyond February 1997. I am also conscious of the need for an adequate transition period of at least three years during which both the Decca and Loran C systems would be operating. These constraints mean that a delay beyond early to mid-1991 in ratifying an acceptable international agreement would, as far as can currently be seen, effectively rule out the United Kingdom's adoption of Loran C. Thus, if a firm agreement acceptable to the United Kingdom has not been reached by then, it would be my intention to withdraw from the international discussions and to consider with the general lighthouse authorities whether to arrange for modernisation of the United Kingdom Decca navigator system so that it could continue to operate beyond 1997.
Scottish Lowland Airports
Mr. Foulkes : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, further to his answers to the hon. Member for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley of 3 April, Official Report, column 501, when he decided not to publish the responses received to the consultation document on Scottish lowland airports policy ; what objections were raised by respondents to the proposals of paragraph 17 of the consultation document on Scottish lowland airports
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policy that it was assumed that respondents have no objection to their responses being published, unless they specifically indicate otherwise ; and what considerations of public policy underlay his decision to change his policy regarding the publication of responses to the consultation document on Scottish lowland airports policy from that set out in paragraph 17 of the consultation document.Mr. McLoughlin : Paragraph 17 of the consultation document did not represent a policy statement. A presumption of publication was offered as the basis for respondents to make their wishes on this known. In the light of the wishes expressed, my right hon. Friend took a policy decision not to publish any responses, for the reasons explained to the hon. Member in my reply of 3 April 1990, Official Report, column 501.
Road Construction Costs
Mr. Fearn : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the average cost of construction of one mile of virgin road in respect of (a) single carriageway roads, (b) dual carriageway roads and (c) six-lane roads including average costs of land acquisition and design work ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Atkins : Construction costs of roads vary substantially depending on factors such as location and the need for structures. In view of this, the Department does not prepare information on the average construction costs per mile.
"Trunk Roads, England into the 1990s" contains full details, including estimated works costs, of all schemes in the trunk road programme.
Railways (Safety)
Sir Peter Emery : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will list the amount of money spent by the railways and financed by Government on safety of the railways over the past five years, and the amount planned to be spent for the next three years for safety on the railways.
Mr. Portillo : It is not possible to identify separately figures for British Rail's expenditure on specific safety measures over the last five years. Much general investment brings with it enhancements in safety. On 20 March I announced that the public sector obligation grant cash ceiling for 1989-90 would be increased by £8 million specifically to accommodate the grant-aided sector's share of additional safety-related expenditure. We have endorsed BR's plans for expenditure of £125 million on specific safety measures over the next three years. BR is currently assessing the costs of implementing the longer-term recommendations of the Hidden report on the Clapham accident, and will include them in its 1990 corporate plan.
Coach Accidents (Schoolchildren)
Miss Emma Nicholson : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what information he has on the number of children of school age killed or injured in bus or coach accidents while on a journey to and from school, or on school-sponsored trips, over the last 10 years, five years and one year or over such period as such relevant information is available ;
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(2) what information he has on the number of children of school age killed or injured while boarding or alighting from buses or coaches while on a journey to or from school or on school- sponsored trips over the last 10, five or one year or over such period as such relevant information is available.Mr. Atkins : The table shows the numbers of children up to 16 years of age killed and injured while on a journey to or from school on a public service vehicle for each of the
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last 10 years. Figures for children as seated passengers, as standing passengers, and in the acts of boarding and alighting are shown separately.The data are taken from the information provided on casualties in the STATS19 accident report form. The information provided on vehicles in the accident report form does not identify school buses ; nor does it record the purpose of bus journeys or give general information about passengers. Figures relating to school-sponsored trips are, therefore, unavailable.
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|c|Children up to age sixteen: Killed or injured on public service
vehicles: On journeys to and from school; by activity|c|
Severity |Boarding |Alighting|Standing |Seated |All<1>
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
1979
Killed |1 |1 |0 |0 |2
Injured |24 |57 |47 |261 |391
All casualties |25 |58 |47 |261 |393
1980
Killed |1 |1 |0 |0 |2
Injured |36 |67 |71 |310 |484
All casualties |37 |68 |71 |310 |486
1981
Killed |0 |0 |0 |0 |0
Injured |21 |50 |57 |241 |369
All casualties |21 |50 |57 |241 |369
1982
Killed |0 |3 |0 |0 |3
Injured |35 |84 |75 |200 |397
All casualties |35 |87 |75 |200 |400
1983
Killed |0 |2 |0 |0 |2
Injured |25 |86 |98 |206 |415
All casualties |25 |88 |98 |206 |417
1984
Killed |0 |0 |0 |0 |0
Injured |37 |78 |101 |342 |564
All casualties |37 |78 |101 |342 |564
1985
Killed |0 |0 |0 |0 |0
Injured |36 |70 |68 |346 |529
All casualties |36 |70 |68 |346 |529
1986
Killed |0 |0 |1 |0 |1
Injured |19 |73 |81 |290 |463
All casualties |19 |73 |82 |290 |464
1987
Killed |0 |0 |0 |0 |0
Injured |24 |46 |53 |362 |485
All casualties |24 |46 |53 |362 |485
1988
Killed |0 |0 |0 |0 |0
Injured |17 |46 |54 |331 |452
All casualties |17 |46 |54 |331 |452
<1> Includes a small number of cases where the activity of the passenger
was not reported.
Railway Gauges
Mr. Speller : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what gauge railway lines will be used for the channel link route.
Mr. Speller : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has received representations seeking a change from
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the United Kingdom railway gauge to one that is compatible with continental railways ; and if he will make a statement.Mr. Portillo : I have received some suggestions that BR should begin to convert some or all routes to the continental loading gauge. This is a matter for BR to consider but any ungrading must be commercially justified. BR considers that the cost of conversion to continental loading gauge is prohibitive and that it is more
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effective to use new wagon technology. All wagons presently in service with BR can run on continental gauge railways. BR are looking to develop a fleet of new, smaller wheeled intermodal and conventional wagons which have the same loading capacities as those generally available in mainland Europe.Energy Efficiency
Ms. Ruddock : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish the conclusions of the energy technology support unit report entitled "Energy Use and Energy Efficiency in UK Transport" up to the year 2010 ; and if he will place a copy in the Library.
Mr. Morrison : I have been asked to reply.
This report was published in January as the 10th paper in the Energy Efficiency Series with the results and conclusions as chapter 6.
I have arranged for a copy of the report to be placed in the Library of the House.
TRADE AND INDUSTRY
Inner-City Task Forces
106. Mr. Irvine : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many projects have been funded by the inner city task forces since they were set up.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : I am answering this question because the inner cities task forces are a responsibility of the DTI. Between the start of the initiative in February 1986 and the end of March this year, 1, 870 projects have been approved.
Benzene
Mr. Gareth Wardell : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if his Department is aware of any evidence to suggest that the use of benzene in consumer products is carcinogenic.
Mr. Freeman : I have been asked to reply.
We are not aware of any evidence which indicates a link between benzene in consumer products and the onset of cancer. Benzene is toxic at high doses and is classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer as a human carcinogen on the basis of data from workers who were exposed to high levels in the past. The maximum concentration of benzene permitted under European directives in consumer products is 0.1 per cent. ; except for motor fuels which are covered by a separate directive, this limits the amount of benzene in petrol to 5 per cent.
Rover Group
Mr. Gordon Brown : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will deposit in the Library (a) a copy of the provisional contractual agreement of March 1988 for the sale of Rover Group to British Aerospace, and (b) a copy of the final contractual agreement of July/August 1988 for the sale of the Rover Group to British Aerospace.
Mr. Ridley : I have today made arrangements to put in the Libraries of both Houses copies of both documents. The provisional agreement with British Aerospace of 29
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March 1988 was subject to EC Commission clearance and was superseded by the final contractual agreement of 14 July 1988.NORTHERN IRELAND
Mr. Charles Haughey
Mr. John D. Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what is the total estimated cost of the Royal Ulster Constabulary operation in connection with the visit of Mr. Charles Haughey to Belfast ; on what date the operation commenced ; and on what date the operation was ended ;
(2) how many members of the Royal Ulster Constabulary were involved each day in connection with the security operation for the visit of Mr. Charles Haughey to Belfast on Wednesday 11 April.
Mr. Cope : The extra cost incurred by the Royal Ulster Constabulary in the operation could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. It is not considered appropriate, for security reasons, to give details of the number of police involved and the time scale of the operation.
Student Grants
Mr. Beggs : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the level of grants applicable to Northern Ireland students studying in Great Britain will be increased in the 1991-92 academic year to take account of the liability of students for community charge.
Robberies
Mr. Maginnis : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the bank, post office, wages and comparable robberies which have occurred in Northern Ireland since the beginning of 1989 where the Provisional Irish Republican Army or other paramilitary groups are deemed to have been involved ; and what is the amount of moneys stolen in each case.
Mr. Cope [holding answer 2 April 1990] : It is not always possible to attribute robberies to particular organisations. Nor do paramilitary organisations have a monopoly of armed robbery. However, in the period from 1 January 1989, there are believed to have been around 751 armed robberies of all kinds in Northern Ireland, in which the amount of money stolen is estimated at over £1.7 million.
HOME DEPARTMENT
Patients (Thefts)
Mr. French : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has received any representations about thefts of personal valuables from hospital patients.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : I am not aware that any such representations have been received by the Home Office.
Police Officers' Salaries
Mr. David Nicholson : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were the increases or otherwise in real terms of the pay of police constables, at
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various levels of seniority, for the periods (a) 1974 to 1979, (b) 1979 to 1984 and (c) 1984 to 1989 ; and if he will list other significant changes in the terms and conditions of service of police officers and the dates at which they became effective.Mr. Peter Lloyd : Increases in real terms in the basic pay of police constables for the periods in question are set out in the table. Since 1974 other significant changes in the terms and conditions of service of police officers have included changes in pension arrangements in 1975 (counting of war service) and 1982 (increase in contributions) and increases in annual leave (1979 ; 1983 and 1987). Allowances payable in addition to basic pay have been uprated on a regular basis.
|c|1. 1974-1979<1>|c|
Rank and Service |Percentage Increase
|(Real Terms)
Constable |Percentage
------------------------------------------------------------
Under 1 Year |16.74
After 1 Year |17.52
After 2 Years |17.84
After 3 Years |16.39
After 4 Years |15.75
After 5 Years |11.67
After 6 Years |8.00
After 7 Years |9.95
After 8 Years |13.76
After 9 Years |8.48
After 13 Years |13.97
After 17 Years |13.26
<1> 1 April 1974-1 April 1979.
|c|2. 1979-84<1>|c|
Rank and Service |Percentage
|increase
|(real terms)
Constable |Per cent.
---------------------------------------------------
Under 1 year |28.84
After 1 year |29.95
After 2 years |30.94
After 3 years |29.76
After 4 years |29.18
After 5 years |31.12
After 6 years |32.91
After 7 years |34.59
After 8 years |33.93
After 12 years |34.90
After 15 years |35.27
<1> 1 April 1979-1 April 1984
|c|3. 1984-89<1>|c|
Rank and Service |Percentage
|increase
|(real terms)
Constable |Per cent.
---------------------------------------------------
Under 1 year |11.20
After 1 year |4.77
After 2 years |10.44
After 3 years |10.47
After 4 years |10.43
After 5 years |10.46
After 6 years |10.44
After 7 years |10.45
After 8 years |10.62
After 12 years |10.48
After 15 years |10.44
<1> 1 April 1984-1 April 1989
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Child Care and Family Services
Mr. Leighton : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what mechanisms his Department has to deal with services and policies on child care and family services.
Mr. John Patten : A ministerial group on women's issues was established in 1986 under Home Office chairmanship to co-ordinate policy issues of special concern to women. The group meets regularly and has focused in particular on child care and domestic violence in the last 12 months.
Home Office Ministers and officials also maintain regular contacts with the Equal Opportunities Commission, the Women's National Commission and with many voluntary organisations and groups. In addition there are staff in the Home Office establishment department responsible for equal opportunities for women, and the Department's equal opportunities officers play their part in Cabinet Office-led activities designed to promote equal opportunities in the civil service.
Visa Stamps
Mr. Colvin : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he has taken to introduce a standardised form of passport visa stamp.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : Responsibility for the format of visa stamps rests with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs. My officials are consulted about the inclusion of safeguards against forgery. I understand that the possibility of introducing a single format, stick-in visa for the United Kingdom at all overseas posts is now under active consideration, although no final decision has been taken.
Football (Restriction Orders)
Mr. Simon Coombs : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the provisions to make restriction orders under section 15 of the Football Spectators Act 1989 will come into effect ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : These provisions came into effect on 24 April. Guidance to the courts, the police, and to the Football Spectators Restriction Orders Authority which will administer the scheme centrally has been placed in the Library. These provisions are expected to be of value in deterring and preventing hooliganism in respect of certain football matches outside England and Wales by prohibiting offenders who are made subject to restriction orders by the courts from attending those matches.
Medical Care (Prisons)
Mr. Tony Lloyd : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what different types of medical qualification exist for prison staff involved in medical care of prisoners ; and what is the minimum level of such personnel available at all times in prison.
Mr. Mellor : All prison service establishments are served by one or more medical officers all of whom are registered medical practitioners. Many have psychiatric or other
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special qualifications. Twenty-four hour medical cover is required and is achieved by a combination of daily attendance and an emergency "on call" rota.Nursing services are provided by hospital officers (prison officers who specialise in health care) and civilian nurses. All the latter, and about 16 per cent. of hospital officers, have a recognised professional nursing qualification. Other hospital officers have received in-service training (currently of 24 weeks duration) in basic nursing techniques. The staffing levels and working patterns are conditioned by the size and function of individual
establishments.
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Cardiff Prison
Mr. Michael : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what was the average number of prisoners accommodated at Cardiff prison during each of the past 10 years ;
(2) what was the average number of (a) sentenced offenders, (b) remand prisoners and (c) young prisoners accommodated at Cardiff in each of the past 10 years, and in the current year to date.
Mr. Mellor : The information is given in the table.
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|c|Average population of Cardiff remand centre and local prison: by type of
prisoner|c|
|c|1979 to 1990|c|
Remand prisoners Sentenced prisoners
Remand centre |70 |- |17 |- |- |87
Local prison |- |117 |- |245 |2 |364
<1> Including fine defaulters.
<2> 31 January and 28 February.
Mr. Michael : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the maximum number of prisoners accommodated at Cardiff prison at any point during each of the past 10 years and in the current year to date ; and how many were (a) sentenced offenders, (b) remand prisoners and (c) young prisoners in each case.
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Mr. Mellor : The greatest number of prisoners held in each establishment at a point during each year is calculated annually, and published in the report of the work of the prison service. Details are set out in the tables. Figures are not routinely collected in a way which enables the provision of a breakdown into the categories requested, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
|c|Greatest number of inmates held at Her Majesty's Prison and
Her|c|
|c|Majesty's Remand Centre Cardiff|c|
Year |Local prison<1>|Remand
|centre<1>
----------------------------------------------------------------
1989-90<2> |382 |84
1988-89 |465 |128
1987-88 |487 |147
1986-87 |482 |128
1985-86 |452 |137
1984-85<3> |379 |126
1983 |461 |130
1982 |465 |142
1981 |435 |141
1980 |454 |127
1979 |422 |104
Notes:
<1>Greatest numbers of inmates in the local prison and the
remand centre may not necessarily occur simultaneously.
<2>Period from 1 April 1990 to 20 April 1990.
<3>Period from 1 January 1984 to 31 March 1985.
ENERGY
Electricity Privatisation
Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy whether, subsequent to privatisation, he will require electricity companies to publish information about pollution control either in the directors' report or separately.
Mr. Baldry : I have no plans to require electricity companies to publish information about pollution control which is, in any case, a matter for the Department of the Environment. However, the Government will continue to collect and publish information on fuel consumption and pollution from the electricity industry.
Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy whether the electricity privatisation prospectus will give information about the cash flow of the Central Electricity Generating Board.
Mr. Baldry : The prospectuses of those successor companies to the Central Electricity Generating Board to be floated will contain information about sources and applications of funds. The final years of the existence of the CEGB will be covered.
Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy whether he will seek powers to require electricity companies to publish information about the safety of its operations.
Mr. Baldry : I have no plans to do so. The industry has published information on safety matters annually both centrally and on a board-by- board basis and I see no reason why this should not continue. Should he consider it necessary, the Director General of Electricity Supply has the power to arrange for the publication of such material.
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OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT
Chile
Mr. Corbyn : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what aid has been offered to the new Government in Chile ; and if he will make a statement.
Mrs. Chalker : We are aiming for some expansion in the existing level of UK programmes for training Chileans in this country and for supporting links between Chilean and UK academic institutions. We also hope to develop a new programme of assistance in the technical education sector, and an English language training project. We have in addition agreed to increase our support to the World University Service (UK) by providing £100,000 a year for three years from 1990 to assist Chilean exiles in the UK to return to Chile.
DEFENCE
Stores Depot, Trecwn
Mr. Gareth Wardell : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he has any plans to close the royal naval stores depot at Trecwn in Dyfed.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : There are no plans at present to close the royal naval armaments depot at Trecwn, but MOD storage requirements are kept under review in the light of changing needs and circumstances.
Low Flying
Mr. Gareth Wardell : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if any Royal Air Force low-flying training aircraft using Wales for exercises carry any live ammunition or weapons.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : Practice bombs, using only small spotting charges, and practice ammunition are carried frequently in the United Kingdom. Inert bombs may also be used on some ranges. Live weapons with full charges are not generally carried in training, but there is a need for aircrew to have some very limited practice in their use and a range in Sutherland is normally used by the Royal Air Force for this purpose.
Mrs. Margaret Ewing : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give details of and list any regular low-flying exercises which concern the United Kingdom.
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