Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what representations he has made to his Russian counterpart on increased activity of Russian aircraft in proximity to UK airspace.

My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Defence (Michael Fallon), has mede no direct representations to his Russian counterpart on this issue. The Ministry of Defence strongly supports comments made by NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg calling on Russia to obey the norms of international air traffic. On 2 December 2014 Foreign Ministers agreed on the need to maintain NATO/Russia military-military channels to help ensure that Russian military flights, or naval activities, do not give rise to unintended accidents or escalation. NATO Defence Ministers are due to meet early next month for further discussion.