HL Deb 10 February 2003 vol 644 cc459-61

2.44 p.m.

Lord Beaumont of Whitley asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the cost of the decision to agree to the request of the United States to use Fylingdales will be paid out of the defence budget; and, if so, at the expense of what other part of it.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Bach)

My Lords, the cost of upgrading RAF Fylingdales will be borne by the United States Government. The station's running costs are borne by the Ministry of Defence, as is appropriate for a station staffed and controlled by the Royal Air Force, but the impact on these costs is expected to be minimal.

Lord Beaumont of Whitley

My Lords, I thank the noble Lord for that reply. Will the sum expended on running costs—indeed, the Secretary of State is reported in the Guardian as saying that there will be more to come—allow us to get rid of the weapons of mass destruction, the possession of which we so deplore in others?

Lord Bach

My Lords, the present annual operating cost of RAF Fylingdales is some £15.6 million per year. The introduction of additional security measures announced by the Secretary of State following the events of 11th September 2001—which have nothing to do with this proposed upgrade—means that this figure will rise to almost £18 million per year. This extra security should be sufficient for any increased protestor activity as a result of the upgrade. But I repeat what I said in my original Answer: the cost of upgrading Fylingdales will be borne by the US Government.

Lord Wallace of Saltaire

My Lords, when did the Government last report on the leasing arrangements for Fylingdales, Menwith Hill and other US intelligence bases in this country? The last time I checked, I was unable to discover any report on an exchange of letters extending the lease which went beyond 1970. I did discover an RAF press release dated October 2001 stating that RAF Menwith Hill and Fylingdales are, made available under the NATO Status of Forces Agreement of 1951 and additional confidential arrangements". Might it not be helpful to Parliament if the Government were to inform us as to the exact terms of the leasing arrangements? We should then know a little more about costs as well.

Lord Bach

My Lords, I have told the noble Lord and the House all that there is to know about costs. The costs of any upgrade will be met by the United States Government. The running costs of this RAF station are paid by the Ministry of Defence, and I have given the figures. It is important to remember that the staff at RAF Fylingdales are all British RAF men and women, apart from one American liaison officer.

Lord Campbell of Alloway

My Lords, is it correct that Fylingdales is virtually essential to the defence of our own country against various forms of attack? If so, does it really matter on which budget it is paid for?

Lord Bach

My Lords, the noble Lord is right, in as much as the existence of Fylingdales gives us early warning as well as the Americans. The early warning system is for the benefit of the Americans, but it gives us important data which helps us to defend our country. So the noble Lord is correct.

Lord Vivian

My Lords, we on these Benches are thoroughly supportive of missile defence systems and we welcome the decision taken by Her Majesty's Government for the USA to be able to use RAF Fylingdales. But will the Minister explain whether the costs of the space-based infra red system related upgrades currently under way at Menwith Hill will be part of the agreed US costs; and will the US costs package also be extended to cover the upgrading of future linked facilities?

Lord Bach

My Lords, I always dislike it when I am unable to answer a direct question from the noble Lord. The Question is 'about Fylingdales. I have not been briefed about costs at Menwith Hill, but I promise to write to the noble Lord at the earliest opportunity.

Lord Tanlaw

My Lords, is Fylingdales capable of giving advance warning of nature's missiles of mass destruction? I refer to hazardous near-earth objects, or asteroids, which endanger the population. It seems to me that vast sums of money are being spent on the proper defence of the country; but exactly the same system is required to defend it against asteroid impact, and very little money appears to have been spent on the latter.

Lord Bach

My Lords, I do not know whether what exists of Fylingdales at the moment protects us as the noble Lord says. All that I can say is that he raises an important question, and I shall find out the answer for him.

Lord Eden of Winton

My Lords, are the facilities at Fylingdales in any way shared with NATO? What are Her Majesty's Government doing to co-ordinate the response of NATO to the threat from Iraq?

Lord Bach

My Lords, as far as I know, the facilities at Fylingdales are not shared with NATO. There is a bilateral arrangement between the United States and the United Kingdom. Our NATO allies are committed to examining options for addressing the increasing ballistic missile threat, of which the whole House is aware. Fylingdales could be a key building block in any extension of missile defence to Europe as a whole, should we and our allies decide that that is what we want to do.

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer

My Lords—

Lord Howell of Guildford

My Lords—

The Lord Privy Seal (Lord Williams of Mostyn)

My Lords, we have had 15 minutes. If this goes on much longer, the noble Baroness, Lady Walmsley, will say that the last Question has been squeezed out.