Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many UK military helicopters have been used to fight moorland fires in Lancashire and Greater Manchester to date.

No Military helicopters have been used in support of the firefighting efforts in Lancashire and Greater Manchester. Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) did, at the outset of the incident, request the support of an RAF Chinook helicopter. However, after an early scene assessment on the morning of 28 July GMFRS notified the Ministry of Defence that the planned helicopter support was no longer necessary. As with all major incidents, military liaison officers remain engaged at the local level, providing advice and support.