Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask Her Majesty's Government on how many occasions in 2017 it was necessary to scramble Quick Reaction Alert aircraft; and, in each case, for what purposes those aircraft were scrambled.

Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) Typhoon aircraft from RAF Lossiemouth and RAF Coningsby launched to intercept on 6 days in 2017.

I am withholding further details as deterrence is a principal function of QRA, which is in turn an integral part of the air defence of the UK. The disclosure of information that might compromise the QRA deterrent capability would, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the Armed Forces.