HC Deb 15 July 1971 vol 821 cc692-3
2. Mr. David Stoddart

asked the Minister of State for Defence how many persons are employed at Royal Air Force, Orfordness ; and what percentage there are of each nationality.

The Under-Secretary of State for Defence for the Royal Air Force (Mr. Antony Lambton)

The figure is 386. Of these, 32.5 per cent. are United States nationals, and the remainder are of United Kingdom nationality.

Mr. Stoddart

Does not the hon. Gentleman realise that his answer may well cause resentment in that, to accommodate foreign nationals, military or security personnel, local inhabitants have been told to keep away, local fishermen have been warned not to go within three miles of the establishment lest they get electric shocks, and overflying of the establishment is prohibited? Would he like to comment on this matter?

Mr. Lambton

No, Sir.

3. Mr. Hugh Jenkins

asked the Minister of State for Defence why special facilities were granted on an exclusive basis to theDaily Telegraph, to photograph Royal Air Force Station, Orfordness, after the issue of the D-notice ; and if he will grant similar facilities to all other national newspapers.

Mr. Lambton

No special facilities were granted to the Daily Telegraph, nor is there a D-notice applying specifically to Royal Air Force, Orfordness. The photographs in question, which were taken entirely on the initiative of the Daily Telegraph, were submitted to my Department for security clearance in the normal way. The second part of the Question does not therefore arise.

Mr. Jenkins

Does not the hon. Gentleman realise that if, there is vagueness about an area covered by a D-notice, there is a tendency for that area to spread beyond the area absolutely necessary for national security? Will he be ready to define, not, of course, what is covered by this D-notice, but what is not covered by it, so that the rest of the national Press will be as well informed as the Daily Telegraph?

Mr. Lambton

I think the Press have been quite openly dealt with on this matter. There is no specific D-notice applying to Orfordness. The station is covered by the terms of the general D-notice relating to photography at all military establishments. The Daily Telegraph observed the provisions of this D-notice.