To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many aircraft are permitted to operate in the highlands restricted area at any one time (a) in formation with each other and (b) independently of each other; and what changes have been made to these limits since the establishment of the highlands restricted area. [5178]

Regulations do not specify a maximum number of aircraft which are permitted to operate in the highlands restricted area. However, the area is allocated to a single squadron at a time, with that squadron then responsible for ensuring the safe deconfliction of its aircraft. There have been no changes to these regulations since the establishment of the highlands restricted area.