HC Deb 13 March 1984 vol 56 cc267-9
6. Mr. Bellingham

asked the Secretary of State for Defence by what proportion he envisages the Falklands garrison will be reduced once the airport is completed.

Mr. Heseltine

The size and shape of the Falklands garrison depends on a number of factors, and I am not prepared to speculate about what kind of reductions will be possible when the new airfield is completed.

Mr. Bellingham

I am grateful to my right hon. Friend for that reply. Does he agree that while no effort should be spared in trying to resume normal relations with Argentina, it is difficult to do that when that country flatly refuses to recognise the cessation of hostilities? Does he further agree that the purchase of British Airways TriStars as tankers will act as an effective force multiplier?

Mr. Heseltine

I agree that the capacity for air-to-air refuelling that the TriStars will give us is a substantial addition to our defence capabilities. I agree also that it would be a major gesture towards the restoration of normal relations in the south Atlantic if the Government of Argentina announced the formal end of hostilities.

Mr. Johnston

As the whole point of constructing the airport was to lessen the requirement to have troops on the island, the Secretary of State must have some idea about the consequences of its completion?

Mr. Heseltine

Yes, but the hon. Gentleman will appreciate that other factors beyond the ability to reinforce would have to be taken into account. That includes present diplomatic relations with Argentina.

Mr. Michael Marshall

Does my right hon. Friend accept—I understand that he cannot give precise figures—that a strategic value will come into play when the airport is completed? Will that not facilitate the process of future negotiations with Argentina and strengthen the Western Alliance?

Mr. Heseltine

It is widely felt that there are virtues associated with the Falkland Islands which for some time were not pursued as energetically as they might have been. We have that very much in mind.

Mr. Strang

Does the Secretary of State agree that the figures that he frequently quotes of the cost of fortress Falklands and the large additional costs of fuel and keeping soldiers there mean that the true cost of the garrison is about £1 billion a year? In those circumstances, does he accept that it would be quite outrageous if the Prime Minister were allowed to veto an offer by the Argentine Government to enter into negotiations without preconditions on sovereignty.

Mr. Heseltine

The hon. Gentleman's latter question is more for my right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign Secretary than for me. The House will be aware of the message that my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister sent to President Alfonsin when he was first elected. That is the best answer that I can give the hon. Gentleman on that matter.

As to the precise costs of the Falklands garrison, the hon. Gentleman's figures is very much in excess of the real running costs because he has included capital replacement costs of a substantial amount of equipment that was lost in the Falklands war.

Sir John Biggs-Davison

Do not those who would throw away the sacrifices of our fighting men and rat on the Falklands grossly exaggerate the future costs of defending them? When the airfield is completed, will there not be considerable savings and will not the matter be seen in proper proportion?

Mr. Heseltine

I am sure that my hon. Friend is correct. There will be potentially significant savings. That is one of the reasons why we took the decision to invest in the airfield.

Mr. McNamara

With regard to people making a profit at the expense of our service men, what will be the true cost of the land for the proposed airfield? Will it be the usual grazing price paid for land at existing use value or will it have an inflated value of £273,000 which has been widely reported in the press?

Mr. Heseltine

The hon. Gentleman will be aware that this matter is being negotiated by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment, who deals with property matters on behalf of the Government. The contract has not yet been signed. All these matters are being taken into account in the current negotiations.