Low-flying Military Aircraft

9. What steps he is taking to reduce the potential impact of low-flying military aircraft on people living in North Norfolk constituency.

The UK and its allies must be ready to deal with the most demanding of circumstances, deterring and preventing a full-scale war by being combat-ready. I can assure the hon. Member that low-flying training plays an indispensable role in achieving and maintaining our war fighting capability, and that it is spread throughout the whole of the UK to help minimise disturbance to the public.

Dozens of my constituents have contacted me to express their frustration with the training patterns of both RAF and American fighter jets over North Norfolk’s towns and villages. It makes it hard to work, it traumatises pets, and in the case of one of my constituents it has left them with permanent hearing damage. They and I recognise the importance of training, but carrying out continuous manoeuvres over populated areas when we are so near to the North sea baffles them. Can the Minister assure me that he will review the training patterns in our area and take steps to reduce the impact on my residents?

I can assure the hon. Member that those increased training missions are to support an increased deployment across Europe, highlighting the issues, but I will meet the Minister to talk through those issues and see if we can make some slight changes.