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Mrs. Ray Michie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will review the number of low-flying sorties over Scotland. [6984]
Mr. Spellar: As reported to the House on 20 March (Official Report, column 860), Scotland has received less military low flying than most other parts of the United Kingdom. The geographic distribution of this activity is reviewed annually.
Mrs. Michie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many operational low-flying sorties were authorised in (a) the Highlands, (b) Argyll and Bute and (c) Scotland in each of the last 12 months. [6985]
Mr. Spellar:
Operational low flying is only permitted in three specially designated Tactical Training Areas (TTAs) located in the Borders (which covers southern Scotland and part of northern England and is called Low Flying Area 20T), northern Scotland (called Low Flying Area 14T) and central Wales (Low Flying Area 7T). Argyll and Bute is not located within a TTA and does not see operational low flying. The numbers of operational
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low flying movements, which equate to sorties in this context, authorised in each of the last 12 months are detailed below. Figures for the movements flown within the part of LFA 20T in Scotland are not recorded separately.
Northern Scotland TTA | Borders TTA | |
---|---|---|
(LFA 14T) | (LFA 20T) | |
1996 | ||
July | 15 | 84 |
August | 6 | 0 |
September | 54 | 3 |
October | 130 | 2 |
November | 44 | 1 |
December | 47 | 1 |
1997 | ||
January | 0 | 0 |
February | 23 | 88 |
March | 32 | 61 |
April | 150 | 83 |
May | 96 | 36 |
June | 7 | 16 |
Mrs. Michie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what measures he is taking to reduce the need for low-flying sorties through the use of flight simulators. [6986]
Mr. Spellar: Flight simulators are extensively used in training but at present they can only complement, not replace, actual experience of low flying. We do, however, continue to monitor closely all developments in simulator technology.
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he next expects to meet German Ministers to discuss the Eurofighter project. [6684]
Mr. Spellar: I can assure the hon. Member that very close and frequent contact at ministerial level has been and will be maintained with German Defence Ministers on Eurofighter. The Government is determined to secure a four nation commitment to move to the production phase of the Eurofighter programme as soon as possible.
Mrs. Ballard: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will review the pensions of Ghurka soldiers who have served in the British Army. [7348]
Dr. Reid:
Pensions paid to ex-British Army Gurkhas are regularly reviewed. Each year both new and existing pensions are increased in line with the rate of inflation in Nepal. This review, which is currently being undertaken, is effective from April each year. In addition to this, and in accordance with our responsibilities under the Tri-Partite Agreement 1947 which links the pensions paid to ex-British Army Gurkhas to pensions paid in the Indian Army, pensions paid to our Gurkhas are reviewed in the light of any changes that the Indian Army may make to ensure that equity of treatment is maintained. The results of the latest 10 year review undertaken by the Indian Government are expected to be announced later this year.
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Mr. Hood: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many executive positions there are in each Scottish health trust; and what the salary is for each post. [2670]
Mr. Galbraith [holding answer 11 June 1997]: Information relating to current salary of Executive Directors at Board level is shown in the table below, starting with the Chief Executive. Full information is already given in many Trust Annual Reports.
9 Jul 1997 : Column: 491
Mr. Eric Clarke: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if the Coal Authority will transfer the cleared Monktonhall Colliery Site to the ownership of Midlothian Council. [6774]
Mr. Wilson: This is a matter for the Coal Authority. Under Section 3(4) of the Coal Industry Act 1994, it is the duty of the Authority to secure the best terms reasonably available for disposal of the site if a buyer cannot be found to keep the mine operational.
Mr. Russell Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will initiate (a) a further detailed survey of Beaufort's Dyke and the surrounding area and (b) a public inquiry into the matters raised by the survey. [6643]
Mr. Dewar: The levels of radioactivity throughout the Irish Sea are routinely monitored by the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science an executive agency of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. The most recent report, which is entitled "Radioactivity in Food and the Environment 1995", is available in the Library of the House of Commons. The monitoring undertaken since the early 1960s has not detected any measurable effect on radioactivity levels in the Beaufort's Dyke area, which remain well within internationally agreed safety levels. At the moment I see no need to initiate any additional surveys or a public inquiry.
Mr. Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will commission the Aberdeen Marine Research Laboratory to conduct an investigation into radiation levels in the Beaufort's Dyke area. [6830]
Mr. Dewar:
The Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, an executive agency of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, carried out comprehensive monitoring for levels of radioactivity throughout the Irish Sea. Such monitoring takes place on a regular basis and will continue. Involvement of the Marine Laboratory Aberdeen would therefore not be justified.
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