§ Mr. KeetchTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what efforts he has made to attract civilian airlines to use Wideawake Airfield on Ascension Island; and if he will make a statement. [96035]
§ Mr. BattleI have been asked to reply.
Civil aircraft may use Wideawake Airfield only with the agreement of both the UK and US authorities.
In December 1998, the UK passed to the United States authorities for consideration, a draft treaty to allow certain types of civil flights into Ascension.
During the visit of my noble Friend the Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, to the United States on 4-5 October 1999, the United States Government agreed in principle that the airfield should be opened to certain types of civil flights on a limited basis.
We are encouraging the United States authorities to complete their internal discussions and to secure a mandate for formal negotiations to begin. British Embassy officials in Washington will soon meet State Department officials to take this issue forward.