Scottish Affairs CommitteeWritten evidence submitted by the Ministry of Defence
Following the evidence session with the Minister for Defence Equipment, Support and Technology and Minister for the Armed Forces on 13 June 2012, further background information is attached. Also included is a summary of the defence footprint in Scotland, which is part of an integrated, overall defence footprint organised, resourced and managed on a UK-wide basis.
The establishment figure for a regiment does not include officers.
Procurement Spend Exemptions From EU Regulations
(Including Article 346 Exemptions)
While the majority of exempt procurements come under the auspices of Article 346, and this particularly applies to high value procurement, there are other exclusions that the Department may use from time to time. These are:
disclosure of highly sensitive classified information;
intelligence activities;
cooperative programmes based on Research and Development (R&D) between European Union (EU) Member States;
local purchases during military or security operations outside the EU;
international procedural rules of international organisation or international agreement;
acquisition of land;
government to government sales;
arbitration or conciliation services;
financial services except insurance services;
employment and other contracts of service; and
R&D services exempt where the Authority takes exclusive rights
The Department does not hold information on the percentage of procurement spend that is exempt from EU regulations following the application of Article 346 specifically. The MOD does, however, collect data on all exemptions from EU regulations relating to the contract expenditure that is contained on the Department’s Defence Bills Services (DBS) database; this database covers approximately 95% by value of the Department’s contract expenditure, excluding that which is set up, for example, by Trading Funds and Executive Non Departmental Public Bodies, which lie outside the MOD’s accounting boundary. It also excludes miscellaneous contracts (ie where the payment method employed does not require an actual contract number to be generated) and expenditure on Government Procurement Cards. This is shown in the table below for payments made in the last two financial years:
|
Exempt Marking |
2010–11 Payments |
2011–12 Payments* |
||
|
Unknown |
£1,220,274,134 |
6.2% |
£1,064,250,460 |
5.4% |
|
Non-Exempt |
£5,985,040,642 |
30.5% |
£6,050,706,867 |
30.4% |
|
Exempt |
£12,402,191,407 |
63.3% |
£12,761,099,921 |
64.2% |
|
*Provisional date awaiting confirmation from DBS Finance |
There is one further important caveat to the data contained in the table. EU regulations do not apply for contract expenditure below certain defined thresholds. It is not possible from the data collected to determine the amount of payments which have been declared “exempt” where they fall below the threshold, rather than the application by MOD of a particular exemption, such as Article 346.
Contractual Obligations
You asked, should Scotland become independent, whether or not we would have the ability to tell a company to move its production from Scotland to the remainder of the UK, if it was in the best interests of the remainder of the UK taxpayers.
In short the answer is that it would depend on the terms of the particular contract and the importance, with regard to performance of the contract, that it be carried out in the remainder of the UK.
My officials are trying to arrange a briefing for you on commercial issues and will be in contact when they have some dates to offer.
Difference between Officer and Soldier Training
Soldier Training
A soldier’s basic training is 14 weeks long and is military based with training in fieldcraft, skill at arms, fitness, military knowledge etc, after which they move on to their specialised trade training, ie infantry, engineering etc.
Officer Training
The 44-week Commissioning Course for Officers, spread over three terms, is designed to develop leadership potential and an Officer Cadet’s character, intellect and professionalism in addition to military training. At the end of the course a newly-commissioned Officer will be qualified to lead and manage soldiers while at the same time upholding the British Army’s core values of selfless commitment, respect for others, loyalty, integrity, discipline and courage.
Military training is infantry-based so that everyone, no matter what their eventual regiment or corps, will have mastered the core essentials before they go on to more specialised training after Sandhurst.
Overall, the core objectives of the Commissioning Course are:
To develop commanders of courage and willpower, with the temperament for decisive action in difficult and dangerous circumstances.
To foster attitudes to integrity, selflessness and loyalty which set the soldier apart from others.
To teach Officer Cadets how to think and communicate as commanders and to foster a deep interest and care for the individual.
To achieve a grounding in British Military Doctrine and its significance in all forms of conflict.
To encourage the analysis of strategic and war studies as a foundation to military thought and wisdom.
To train Officer Cadets in the basic skills and battlefield disciplines of soldiering.
Process for an Officer to Join the Black Watch
Officer Cadets are not allocated, nor have they applied, to any regiment or corps when they begin their training at Sandhurst, although they probably have a preference in mind. It is in Term 2 that Officer Cadets have to make a final decision about which regiment or corps they wish to join. They must narrow their choices down to just two—or three if they are applying to join the Army Air Corps, which has strict medical requirements. Selection interviews start in Week 12, when a regiment or corps selects which candidates to accept, and by the end of term most people know which regiment or corps they will be joining after Sandhurst. Whether they get their preferred choice depends on if the regiment or corps wants them, vacancies and on their level of performance at Sandhurst.
An Officer Cadet who wishes to join the Royal Regiment of Scotland (SCOTS) will be interviewed and either offered or declined a commission with them dependent upon the number of commissions available for that year. During the Senior term, those Officer Cadets who have been offered a commission with SCOTS will be then be informed which of the battalions/regiments have Platoon Commander vacancies available to be filled. The Officer Cadets can indicate their preference that they wish to go to 3 SCOTS (Black Watch) but there are no guarantees that this is where they will go.
This is standard practice across all cap badges.
Referendum Franchise
Officials in the MOD remain in contact with Scotland Office officials on a wide range of issues in relation to the referendum, including the franchise.
Members of HM Forces and their spouses or civil partners are entitled to vote in an election providing that they have registered to vote, either as an ordinary voter, an overseas voter (if applicable) or a Service voter.
As an ordinary voter, the Service person would register at their permanent address, which can be a private address or if living in Service accommodation, the address of that accommodation.
A Service voter can register an address where they currently reside in the UK, an address where they would be living if they were not in the Services or an address where they have lived in the past. In the latter case this could be a parent’s address, or a previous private or Service residence.
As a Service voter, someone who was resident outside of Scotland but registered to vote there would be able to vote in the independence referendum if the franchise for a referendum on Scottish independence were to be the same as the devolved legislature franchise.
We encourage all members of the Armed Forces to register to vote and advise them on the registration and voting options available. The way they choose to register is a personal choice and very much influenced by their own personal circumstances. Together with the Electoral Commission we run an annual campaign informing personnel and their families about voting matters.
Defence Footprint In Scotland
Overview
1. As at 1 April 2012 there were 15,880 regular armed forces and MOD civilian personnel based in Scotland: 11,190 regular armed forces and 4,690 MOD civilians (full-time equivalents).
2. There were also over 3,000 volunteer reserves and 17,000 cadets.
3. As at January 2012 MOD had over 50 locations in Scotland. As at 1 April 2011 MOD had land holdings (owned, leased or with legal rights) totalling 146,000 hectares.
Naval Service
4. As at 1 April 2012 there were 4,530 regular naval service personnel based in Scotland. There were also some 300 maritime reserves and 1,300 cadets.
5. Most naval service personnel are based at HM Naval Base Clyde, which includes the submarine port at Faslane and the RN armament depot at Coulport. In all, over 6,000 naval service, MOD civilian and contractors’ personnel work at the base. The base is the home port of the UK’s nuclear deterrent and on current plans will become home to all RN submarines by 2017, including the nuclear powered fleet of attack submarines. It is also home to: Flag Officer Scotland, Northern England and Northern Ireland/Flag Officer Reserves; Flag Officer Sea Training Director (North); 43 Commando Fleet Protection Group Royal Marines; First Mine Countermeasures Squadron; and the Northern Diving Group. Vessels based there are:
four Vanguard Class SSBN submarines;
one, to be followed post-build by a further six, Astute Class SSN attack submarines;
in the meantime, and by 2017, at least three Trafalgar Class SSN attack submarines;
seven Sandown Class mine countermeasures vessels; and
two patrol boats.
6. 45 Commando RM is based at RM Condor, Arbroath.
7. There are two RN Reserves units in Rosyth (HMS SCOTIA) and Greenock (HMS DALRIADA) and a detachment in Inverness. HQ RM Reserves is in Glasgow, with detachments in Dundee, Aberdeen and Inverness.
8. There are also seven Combined Cadet Force RN sections and one Combined Cadet Force RM section and 38 Sea Cadet units (three of which also have RM Cadet detachments) in Scotland.
Army
9. As at 1 April 2012 there were 3,250 regular army personnel based in Scotland. There were also some 2,500 volunteer reserves and 12,250 cadets.
10. General Officer Commanding Scotland and Headquarters 51 (Scottish) Brigade, which have responsibility for the Army across the whole of Scotland, are based at Stirling. The Army Personnel Centre is based in Glasgow.
11. There are four regular light role infantry battalions based in Scotland:
The Royal Scots Borderers, 1st Battalion Royal Regiment of Scotland (1 SCOTS) at Dreghorn Barracks, Edinburgh;
The Royal Highland Fusiliers, 2nd Battalion Royal Regiment of Scotland (2 SCOTS) at Glencorse Barracks, Penicuik;
The Black Watch, 3rd Battalion Royal Regiment of Scotland (3 SCOTS) at Fort George, near Inverness; and
3rd Battalion The Rifles at Redford Barracks, Edinburgh.
12. 39 Engineer Regiment (Air Support) is scheduled to move to Kinloss later this year.
13. There are also five Scottish-recruited regular units based outside Scotland:
1st Battalion Scots Guards, an armoured infantry battalion based in Catterick as part of 4 Mechanised Brigade;
The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, an armoured regiment based in Fallingbostel, Germany with 7 Armoured Brigade;
The Highlanders, 4th Battalion Royal Regiment of Scotland (4 SCOTS), currently a light role infantry battalion (having re-roled from armoured infantry to support operations in Afghanistan) based in Fallingbostel, Germany as part of 7 Armoured Brigade;
The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, 5th Battalion royal Regiment of Scotland (5 SCOTS), an air assault battalion based in Canterbury as part of 16 Air Assault Brigade; and
19th Regiment Royal Artillery (The Highland Gunners), an artillery regiment equipped with light guns and AS90 based in Tidworth with 1 Mechanised Brigade.
(Note: 40th Regiment Royal Artillery (The Lowland Gunners), a light artillery regiment based in Lisburn as part of 19 Light Brigade, has been disbanded along with 19 Light Brigade as part of the restructuring of the Army following the Strategic Defence and Security Review).
14. There are seven major Territorial Army (TA) units under command of 51 (Scottish) Brigade:
105 Regiment Royal Artillery;
71 Engineer Regiment;
6th Battalion Royal Regiment of Scotland (52nd Lowland) (6 SCOTS);
7th Battalion Royal Regiment of Scotland (51st Highland) (7 SCOTS);
225 Medical Regiment;
The Scottish Transport Regiment; and
Regional Training Centre (Scotland).
15. There are a further two major and seven minor TA units based in Scotland but under command of brigade headquarters outside Scotland:
32 Signal Regiment;
205 Field Hospital;
A Company 4th Battalion The Parachute Regiment;
243 Company RMP;
52 Military Intelligence Company;
Two Signal Squadron (38 Signal Regiment);
125 Ration Squadron (159 Supply Regiment);
Personnel Recovery Unit Edinburgh; and
Personnel Recovery Centre Edinburgh.
16. There are four Officer Training Corps in Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Tayforth (comprising Dundee, St. Andrews and Stirling), eight Army Cadet Force battalions, two independent sub-units (Orkney and Shetland Islands) and 15 Combined Cadet Force Army sections.
RAF
17. As at 1 April 2010 there were 3,420 regular RAF personnel based in Scotland. There were also some 300 volunteer reserves and 3,300 cadets.
18. There are currently three main RAF stations in Scotland:
RAF Lossiemouth, which is home to: three squadrons of Tornado fast jet aircraft, a search and rescue helicopter unit, and an RAF Regiment field squadron;
RAF Leuchars, which is home to: a squadron of Typhoon fast jet aircraft, an RAF Regiment field squadron and a military mountain rescue team; and
RAF Kinloss, which used to be home to Nimrod maritime reconnaissance aircraft but ceased routine flying operations last year. The station is also home to the Aeronautical Rescue Co-ordination Centre and a military mountain rescue team. 39 Engineer Regiment (Air Support) is scheduled to move to Kinloss later this year.
19. There are four Royal Auxiliary Air Force squadrons in Scotland, as well as two University Air Squadrons, two Air Experience Flights, 87 Air Training Corps squadrons and 10 Combined Cadet Force RAF sections.
Estate/Infrastructure
20. MOD owns outright some 29,000 hectares of land in Scotland. The Department also holds rights over 117,000 hectares.
21. Apart from the main bases, much of the MOD estate in Scotland consists of training areas for infantry and armoured vehicles, air weapon and air defence trials and training, test ranges for missiles and ordnance and other specialised training environments.
22. Other MOD sites include: Defence Support Group at Stirling; radar heads; and specialised research and development centres, such as the underwater test and evaluation centre and a seismic monitoring station.
July 2012
BRIEFING FOR THE SCOTTISH AFFAIRS SELECT COMMITTEE FOLLOWING THE EVIDENCE SESSION ON 13 JUNE WITH MINISTER(AF) AND MINISTER(DEST)
The Committee asked for further information about the structure of the UK’s Armed Forces. This is set out in the Annexes.
The Committee also asked for further information on possible scenarios for future Armed Forces presence in Scotland. As agreed with the Committee providing any information of this type would be purely speculative and, as we are not undertaking any contingency planning, we have not provided this information.
Annex A
DATED 22 JUNE 2012
Royal Regiment of Scotland—Personnel
Below are the numbers of service personnel in each battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland.
Regulars
|
Soldier |
Officer |
|
|
1 Scots |
517 |
33 |
|
2 Scots |
448 |
29 |
|
3 Scots |
520 |
35 |
|
4 Scots |
460 |
28 |
|
5 Scots |
465 |
33 |
|
Total Regulars |
2,410 |
158 |
Reserves
|
Soldier |
Officer |
|
|
6 Scots |
253 |
25 |
|
7 Scots |
327 |
25 |
|
Total Reserves |
580 |
50 |
Annex B
DATED 22 JUN 2012
How the Army is Constituted
Introduction
The British Army is comprised of a number of Arms and Services that perform different functions which are all aimed at producing what we call force elements at readiness. These Arms and Services are comprised of Regular and Territorial Army elements. The information below explains in outline the purpose of the Army (the concept of force elements at readiness), how it is organised to meet that purpose when on deployments and during peace-time, and the Regimental System.
Force Elements at readiness
The Army Headquarters commands all Army activity, the purpose of which is to provide the Permanent Joint Headquarters (which commands all troops on overseas operations) with Force Elements at Readiness. A force element is an organisation or group of organisations that is tailored to a particular operation, it can vary in size capability and endurance. This force element will require an effort to be made in order to place it where it can provide operational effect in line with the purpose of the deployment, and the measure of this effort is defined by the “readiness” of the force. A force element with low readiness might need to be re-roled, organised, assembled and trained before it can deploy, and a high readiness force may only need the briefest of preparation periods before deployment.
The force element that deploys to an operation is grouped from the basic organisations of the peace-time British Army: arms and services that are organised into regiments and corps.
Arms and Services
Arms are the elements of the British Army that fight adversaries in the field of battle, Services are the elements that support the preparation and sustainment of the Arms. Arms and Services are divided up into Combat Arms, Combat Support Arms and Combat Service Support Arms. The Combat Arms are organised and trained to conduct close combat with adversaries, they are the Household Cavalry and Royal Armoured Corps, the Infantry and the Army Air Corps. The Combat Support Arms are providing direct support to the Combat Arms and include the Royal Artillery, the Royal Engineers, the Royal Signals and the Intelligence Corps. The Combat Service Support Arms provide sustainment and support for the Combat and Combat Support Arms. Whilst Combat Service Support personnel are not intended to close with and engage opposition forces, the fluidity of the modern battlefield means that these personnel are likely to be engaged in close combat at times and will need to be trained to operate in this environment, they include the Royal Logistic Corps, the Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, the Army Medical Services and the Adjutant General’s Corps.
The Territorial Army is constructed in a similar manner with particular posts being held by regular personnel in order to support the command, and administration of its constituent organisations.
Peace-time Army hierarchy
The Army is commanded by the Chief of the General Staff, a four star general and organised into three functional areas each commanded by a three star general (Lieutenant General): Land Forces, Force Development and Training (which includes the various training schools, equipment programmers and capability directorates), and the Adjutant General’s area responsible for managing the Army’s personnel.
The bulk of the Army is under command of the Commander Land Forces. This is the area where the Divisions, Brigades, Regiments and Battalions are organised during peace time. Land Forces also includes organisations with support and administrative command roles that are linked to the geographical area within which they reside; they include London District, British Forces Germany, the Regional Brigades and Headquarters Scotland. The geographically defined support and administrative command organisations are fairly small organisations that are usually limited to headquarters areas. The Field Army Divisions, of which there are two, and the Joint Helicopter Command, contain almost all of the Combat Arms, about half of the Combat Support Arms and a significant proportion of the Combat Service Support Arms.
The Field Army Divisions and the Joint Helicopter Command
The British Army has 2 Field Army Divisions, 1st (UK) Armoured Division based in Germany, and 3rd (UK) Division based in the UK, and the Joint Helicopter Command. Each of these organisations is commanded by a 2 Star officer (for example a Major General) and contains a number of deployable combat Manoeuvre Brigades of which the Army has seven in total commanded by a Brigadier (1 Star). They are not organised on geographical lines, they are organised in accordance with their varying capabilities to produce the most balanced force on which to base an operational deployment.
These Brigades are comprised of Regiments and Battalions from the Arms and Services and when deployed or preparing for a deployment, will re-organise these Regiments and Battalions, commonly referred to as “units”, specifically to support the operational effect that the commander wishes to achieve. In peace-time, they remain organised along exclusively regimental or corps lines, for example the Light Dragoons is a Royal Armoured Corps Regiment (or “unit”) commanded by a Lieutenant Colonel that is based in Norfolk, commanded by Commander 12 Mechanized Brigade, a Brigadier based with his Headquarters in Wiltshire, who in turn is commanded by the General Officer Commanding the 3rd (UK) Division based in Wiltshire. Another example, is 1st Battalion, the Royal Irish Regiment is an Infantry Battalion (or unit) commanded by a Lieutenant Colonel that is based in Shropshire, commanded by Commander 16 Air Assault Brigade, a Brigadier based with his Headquarters in Essex, who in turn is commanded by the Commander of the Joint Helicopter Command Division based in Hampshire.
The historic Regimental System of the British Army
Underpinning all of this regional and operational based command groupings, is the Regimental system. This is similar to a college system within a university; you might represent the university at sport, but you are from a particular college and always will be. A solider or officer enlists into a particular parent regiment, corps or “cap badge” and remains of that denomination throughout their military service. During the course of their Army career, they may be posted between a number of organisations either outside their parent “cap-badge” or within it; according to their skill-set. For example, a Royal Signals soldier who completes training may be posted to 207 Headquarters & Signals Squadron in Hohne, Germany where he will support Headquarters 7th Armoured Brigade. After a couple of years he may be promoted and posted to 3rd Divisional Signals Regiment in Bulford, Wiltshire to do a similar job supporting Headquarters 3rd (UK) Division. Alternatively an Infantry officer, Commissioned from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst into his parent Regiment, the RIFLES, may serve for five years as junior officer in the Second Battalion in Northern Ireland, but may then be posted to a Regional Brigade Headquarters in Southern England where he is the only representative of his Regiment working in that organisation. Later on in his career, he might be posted back to another Battalion in his Regiment to be the Operations Officer. He will spend his career wearing the RIFLES beret and uniform, and serving in RIFLES Battalions and other larger organisations.
As a result of the histories of the various corps and regiments, and the requirements over the years to raise and disband many parts of the British Army, not all parent regiments and corps are the same size. For example, the Royal Irish Regiment currently has only one Regular Battalion and one Territorial Army Battalion, however it has reached its current shape and size as a result of the various amalgamations and disbandments of its antecedent regiments and battalions, which number over 15. This can be contrasted with the Royal Regiment of Scotland, which in its current guise has a much larger number of five Regular and two Territorial Battalions, all of whom reached their current shape and size due to particular amalgamations and disbandments of its antecedent regiments and battalions peculiar to past Scottish Infantry regiments.
The net result of these amalgamations and disbandments is that some Infantry Regiments (or cap-badges) have more Regular and TA Battalions than others, but each Battalion is the same size. There are some minor variations in the sizes of units (Infantry Battalions, Royal Armoured Corps Regiments, Royal Engineer Regiments etc) dependent upon their specific role, for example an Armoured Infantry unit that operated from Infantry Fighting Vehicles requires up to 100 more soldiers than a light role Infantry Battalion whose primary means of transport is by foot. This is because there is an extra requirement for specialists to command and maintain the Infantry Fighting Vehicles in an Armoured Infantry Battalion (or “unit”). In the Royal Engineers, a Close Support Engineer Regiment such as 26 Engineer Regiment based in Hampshire supporting 12 Mechanized Brigade has over 600 soldiers in it, but a specialist Force Support Engineer Regiment such as 39 Engineer Regiment which is configured for airfield damage repair, rapid runway provision and delivering the lead air support squadron (a rapidly deployable infrastructure support squadron that supports the RAF when it is deployed abroad) has over 100 fewer soldiers in it.
Open source British Army website
http://www.army.mod.uk/structure/structure.aspx
Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Structure_of_the_British_Army
Annex C
DATED 22 JUN 2012
HMNB Clyde
As of June 2012, there are approximately 6,300 personnel working at Her Majesty’s Naval Base (HMNB) Clyde, including the Royal Naval Armaments Depot Coulport. This consists of approximately: 3,350 service personnel; 1,300 MOD civilians; and 1650 civilian contractors. This number includes all lodger units at the Naval Base, and excludes contractors and subcontractors who are not resident on site. It should be noted that the total number of personnel will fluctuate on a daily basis as staff are posted in and out of the Naval Base, and contractors’ taskings vary.
Furthermore, these numbers will increase gradually in the run up to all RN submarines being based at the base from 2017.
Annex D
DATED 22 JUN 2012
RAF in Scotland
The number of RAF Personnel as at 1 April 2012 located in Scotland was around 3,400 personnel. There were also some 300 volunteer reserves. There are also around 550 civilians at RAF bases in Scotland.
The exact number of Tornados based at RAF Lossiemouth varies on a day-to-day basis depending on the tasking that they are given, but there are nominally 46 airframes allocated to squadrons there: 13 to each of the two operational squadrons and 20 to the Operational Conversion Unit. In addition, there will be a number of airframes on the unit undertaking maintenance, being prepared for, or recovered from, deployment to Afghanistan, or else in temporary storage. There are currently no Typhoon aircraft based at Lossiemouth, however, it is planned over the 2013–14 period to transfer the Typhoon squadrons currently at RAF Leuchars to RAF Lossiemouth.
What are the other bases that provide fast jests in the UK
There are a number of military bases in the UK with Fast Jet aircraft, with some covering operational roles and the others training roles; each location varies greatly in its size, capacity and infrastructure. There are Tornado GR4 aircraft based at RAF Marham and Lossiemouth, and Typhoon aircraft at RAF Leuchars and Coningsby. Additionally, Coningsby is home to a small number of Tornados of the Operational Evaluation Unit. RAF Leeming has Hawk aircraft, as does RAF Scampton (the Red Arrows), RAF Valley (fast jet training) and RNAS Yeovilton and Culdrose for the Royal Navy. Finally, a small number of aircraft are operated by the Test Pilot School at MOD Boscombe Down.
How long would it take to fly from that base (Lincolnshire) to Lossiemouth?
Transit times will depend on the route and speed of the aircraft and whether it is authorised to fly at supersonic speeds.
Essentially what is the advantage of being able to launch fast jets from a base in Scotland?
It would be best to answer this question by describing the role of the Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) aircraft. QRA are launched to intercept unidentified aircraft because the aircraft cannot be identified by any other means, ie the aircraft is not talking to civilian or military Air Traffic Control, has not filed a flight plan and is not transmitting a recognisable secondary surveillance radar code. QRA procedures entail aircraft and crews being held at continuous ground readiness, so that they can take off within minutes to protect UK sovereign airspace.
Under current plans, we hold a continuous ground readiness posture at RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire (Southern QRA), and RAF Leuchars (Northern QRA (NQRA)) in Fife (it is planned that in future the NQRA will be supplied by RAF Lossiemouth). Aircraft are available at each base allowing us to provide a good response across the country. Typhoons at RAF Coningsby and RAF Leuchars are held at high readiness 24/7 to intercept any aircraft approaching or in NATO-monitored airspace or National airspace without prior approval or not having identified themselves.
Aircraft could also be redeployed to other airfields to counter specific threat(s) if required. However the routine basing of QRA aircraft in Scotland and Lincolnshire allows the provision of a rapid response across the UK and its Flight Information Region/Air Policing Area.
June 2012