§ LORD KENNETasked Her Majesty's Government:
What NATO countries use the airbase at Keflavik in Iceland; what they use it for; whether it is more or less important for the security of the United Kingdom than other NATO airbases; and what would be the effect on the security of the United Kingdom if (a) the United Kingdom were deprived of its use; (b) NATO as a whole were 1658WA deprived of its use; (c) the Soviet Union were allowed to use it without restriction.
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR DEFENCE (LORD CARRINGTON)The airbase at Keflavik is used by a number of NATO countries, including the United Kingdom, and is of major importance in providing facilities for surveillance throughout the North Atlantic area. It also provides staging facilities for aircraft in transit to and from Europe and North America and is the permanent base for some United States aircraft. It is not practicable to make a relative assessment of the importance of this airbase and other NATO airbases; but its loss would deprive NATO of a valuable facility and would be a matter of great concern to the United Kingdom and to the Alliance collectively.
The last two questions carry hypothesis further than I am prepared to go. Iceland is a valued member of the Alliance, and we have no reason to believe that she will not continue to be so.
House adjourned at thirteen minutes before eleven o'clock.