§ Mr. Frank Allaunasked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the original estimate of the cost of the plans for defence at Stornoway; and what is the latest estimate of the cost.
§ Mr. PattieThe current estimated cost of the work planned at RAF Stornoway is about £40 million, most of which will fall to NATO infrastructure funds. This cannot be compared with the original estimate made some years ago, which was based on a substantially different work content.
§ Mr. Frank Allaunasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy that the proposed Ministry of Defence-North Atlantic Treaty Organisation development at RAF Stornoway will not be used for (a) large troop and equipment transport aircraft, (b) tanker aircraft, and (c) the P3C Orion surveillance and submarine attack aircraft.
§ Mr. PattieRAF Stornoway will be used in peacetime primarily for exercises involving RAF air defence aircraft. Other types, such as strike attack or maritime patrol aircraft—including those of Allied nations—may visit Stornoway from time to time.
§ Mr. Frank Allaunasked the Secretary of State for Defence, in view of his assurance to the organisation "Keep NATO Out" that only British aircraft would use the Stornoway base, why the policy of Her Majesty's Government was changed before the public inquiry at which it was stated that North Atlantic Treaty Organisation forces would use the base.
§ Mr. PattieRAF Stornoway will be used in peacetime for exercises involving RAF air defence aircraft. However, aircraft of other NATO nations may visit the airfield and make use of the facilities there from time to time, as indeed they may do at any RAF airfield. RAF aircraft on detachment often use facilities at the airfields of our NATO allies.