HC Deb 25 November 1994 vol 250 cc456-7W
Mr. McFall

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the amount paid to the Canadian Government in the financial year 1993–94 for Royal Air Force use of Canadian forces base Goose bay; what is the estimated amount payable for the financial year 1994–95; and if he will make a statement on the discrepancy between the figures for the period 1987–88 to 1992–93 provided to the hon. Member for Dumbarton on 25 October 1993,Official Report, column 489, and those provided to the hon. Member for Don Valley (Mr. Redmond) on 21 January, Official Report, column 934.

Mr. Soames

The amount paid in the financial year 1993–94 was £14,300,000 and it is estimated that £12,300,000 will be payable in 1994–95.

The figures provided to the hon. Member for Dumbarton reflected the actual payments made each year to the Canadian Government. The table of figures provided to the hon. Member for Don Valley (Mr. Redmond) was, however, based on the actual costs incurred in each financial year, as it would not otherwise have been possible to provide the information in the format requested. Payments to the Canadian Government are based on estimated costs, with the subsequent adjustments being made to reflect the actual costs involved. These adjustments sometimes have to be made after the financial year to which they relate, and it is this that primarily accounts for the difference between the two sets of figures provided.

Mr. McFall

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the Royal Air Force's future requirement for practice firing of forward-firing ordnance by aircraft deployed to Canadian forces base, Goose bay for training.

Mr. Soames

The Royal Air force has no plans at present to undertake such training at Goose bay, Labrador.

Mr. McFall

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proposals have been submitted to the Canadian authorities for training using portable surface-to-air defence systems in the training areas at Goose bay, Labrador.

Mr. Soames

The possibility of RAF regiment Rapier units being deployed to the practice training area was discussed at a Goose bay users' meeting in 1993; consideration of this has, however, been deferred until after the completion of the Canadian federal environmental assessment review process.

Mr. McFall

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many training sorties were flown by Royal Air Force aircraft from Canadian forces base Goose bay in 1994; and by which types of aircraft.

Mr. Soames

RAF aircraft have flown 1,299 training sorties during the 1994 flying season at Goose bay—1,277 by Tornado GR1s and 22 by Hercules aircraft.

Mr. McFall

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of the national statement of requirements for facilities at Goose bay which was submitted to the Canadian authorities in 1991; and if he will list any changes made to the stated requirements since then.

Mr. Soames

It is not our practice to release internal planning documents of this kind.

Mr. McFall

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the Royal Air Force's requirements for ground-controlled interception training for aircrew deployed to Canadian forces base Goose bay.

Mr. Soames

The Royal Air Force has at present no plans to conduct ground-controlled interception training at Goose bay.