§ Mr. Masonasked the Secretary of State for Air if he will take steps to suspend all flights of U2s from British bases during the Cuban crisis.
§ Mr. H. FraserNo. The only U2 aircraft operating from British bases are engaged on atmospheric sampling and high altitude weather research. Their flights are over international waters in the North Atlantic area and do not violate any national frontiers. They are thus entirely peaceful and I can see no reason for interfering with them.
§ Mr. Masonasked the Secretary of State for Air what agreement he has reached with the United States Government regarding the stationing of U2 aircraft in this country; what is their type of patrol; and when he expects they will have completed their mission.
§ Mr. H. FraserWe have agreed to a small detachment of U2 aircraft being stationed temporarily in this country for the purpose of engaging on atmospheric sampling and high-altitude weather research. The flights of the aircraft are notified to the appropriate air traffic control authorities in accordance with normal international regulations. In the course of the flights air samples are collected to determine the concentration of radioactive debris introduced into the stratosphere by nuclear tests.
The duration of the detachment will depend on the progress made with their programme and this in turn will depend to a large extent on how long the Soviet Union continue their current series of tests.