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Duke of York (Helicopter Flight)
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people were on board the naval helicopter on the training sortie on 13 November 1996 involving the Duke of York; and what were their operational roles. [13695]
Mr. Soames: There were three people on board the naval helicopter on the training sortie on 13 November 1996 including HRH the Duke of York. The operational roles of the other two were pilot and observer.
Guardsmen Fisher and Wright
Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent representations he has received in respect of the cases of Scots Guardsmen Fisher and Wright. [13907]
Mr. Soames: I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave on 29 January1997, Official Report, columns 209-10.
Castlemartin Camp
Mr. Ainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the number and location of properties that have received compensation from his Department for damage allegedly caused by firing operations at Castlemartin camp, Pembrokeshire, in each of the last 15 years. [13800]
Mr. Soames: The information required pre-1987 is not readily available and I will write to the hon. Member. From 1987, my Department paid compensation to property owners in the Castlemartin area as follows:
| Year | Number | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 1987 | 1 | Castlemartin |
| 1988 | 2 | Warren and Rhoscouther |
| 1989 | 0 | -- |
| 1990 | 0 | -- |
| 1991 | 1 | Maidenvells |
| 1992 | 1 | Rhoscouther |
| 1993 | 0 | -- |
| 1994 | 3 | Hundletom, Castlemartin and Stackpole |
| 1995 | 1 | Stackpole |
| 1996 | 0 | -- |
31 Jan 1997 : Column: 439
Hawk Aircraft
Mr. Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Hawk aircraft the RAF owns; and how many have been procured since 1992. [13275]
Mr. Arbuthnot: The RAF currently has 125 Hawk aircraft. Other Hawks are operated by the Royal Navy and Procurement Executive, giving a combined fleet of 145. No Hawks have been procured since 1992.
Mull of Kintyre (Air Crash)
Mr. Ainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will establish a judicial inquiry into the crash of Flight Zulu Delta 576 on the Mull of Kintyre. [13799]
31 Jan 1997 : Column: 440
Mr. Soames: An extremely thorough investigation into this tragic accident has already been carried out by RAF experts and civilian specialists from the air accidents investigation branch, with assistance from the manufacturers of the aircraft and its systems. All possible causes were exhaustively examined, including that of some malfunction in the aircraft's systems. The investigation concluded that the accident was caused by the two pilots, who wrongly continued to fly their aircraft towards the high ground of the Mull of Kintyre below a safe altitude in unsuitable weather. No new evidence has emerged subsequently which would cause us to doubt the accuracy of this conclusion. My right hon. Friend does not believe that there would be any purpose in setting up a judicial inquiry.