§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) whether it was with his authority that Group Captain Anthony Mumford made statements about the base at Ascension Island to BBC "Newsnight" on 5 April;
(2) whether he authorised statements made on the BBC "Newsnight" programme on 5 April attributed to serving personnel that the annual cost in fuel and spares for the airbridge to the South Atlantic is £40 million;
(3) whether he authorised service personnel to express anxieties on BBC "Newsnight" on 5 April about the state of the Hercules operating the airbridge to the South Atlantic and the state of the Victor refuelling aircraft;
(4) whether he authorised Wing-Commander Vallance to make reference on BBC "Newsnight" to fatigue problems in Victor tankers;
(5) whether he authorised Squadron-Leader Bob Gray, a Hercules pilot, to make statements on BBC "Newsnight" on 5 April about the problems of refuelling.
§ Mr. BlakerFollowing a request from the BBC, authority was given in the normal way for a team from "Newsnight" to make a programme about Ascension Island.
§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the estimated cost of Concertina City on Ascension Island.
§ Mr. WigginIt is not our practice to disclose details of our financial arrangements with our allies.