§ 2.46 p.m.
§ Lord MILFORDMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
The Question was as follows:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what recent events have taken place in the world to cause the American military establishment's urgent request for the reopening of their former airforce bases in Britain.
§ Lord WINTERBOTTOMMy Lords, I am not aware of a request in the terms which the noble Lord has mentioned. However, in my Answer to the noble Lord, Lord Selsdon, on 2nd May, I referred to the United States' request for a peacetime base for tanker aircraft in this country. The use of such aircraft for air-to-air refuelling would lead to significant increases in operational effectiveness, and the United States' request therefore reflects a welcome example of their commitment to the strengthening of NATO's deterrent strategy.
§ Lord MILFORDMy Lords, I thank the Minister for his Answer. May I ask him whether or not the timing is a little inopportune when one considers two very important events, one of which took place about a fortnight ago while the other is taking place today? I refer, first, to Mr. Brezhnev's speech in Germany. Do not Her Majesty's Government consider that speech—in which Mr. Brezhnev expressed terrible concern at the way the arms race is taking place and stressed very strongly that the Soviet Union is not seeking superiority and that we must all sit down together to stop this absolute madness of an arms race—to be a very import step forward?
§ Lord WINTERBOTTOMMy Lords, this is not a question of an arms race. These aircraft already exist. They enable the Alliance as a whole to strengthen its deterrent strategy.
§ The Earl of KIMBERLEYMy Lords, while appreciating fully that it is vital that we should have these American refuelling aircraft in this country, may I ask the Minister whether he would consider the possibility in the near future of a debate in this House as to where the tankers are to go?
§ Lord WINTERBOTTOMMy Lords, that is not for me to answer; it is a question for the usual channels.
§ Lord MILFORDMy Lords, may I ask the Minister my second supplementary question. Are the Government aware that a very Special Session of the United Nations General Assembly is starting today which illustrates world despair over the armaments situation? May I also ask the Minister whether or not what I have read is true; namely, that Britain is taking a lead in putting forward new proposals? If our proposals are accepted, will Her Majesty's Government fight in every way possible for them to be carried out?
§ Lord WINTERBOTTOMMy Lords, that is another question.
§ Lord ELTONMy Lords, is the noble Lord aware that the residents of Fairford and many other villages are acutely interested in this subject, for different reasons? May I ask the noble Lord whether or not he agrees that, if the aircraft in question could be re-engined, a great deal would be done to improve international relations as well as the environment?
§ Lord WINTERBOTTOMMy Lords, that is a fascinating question. However, may I ask the noble Lord whether he has made an estimate of what it would cost to re-engine these aircraft?