§ Mr. Frank Allaunasked the Secretary of State for Defence on what terms United States military bases generally, and especially the United States air force base Daws Hill, High Wycombe, are leased; and if the leases are for an indefinite period.
§ Mr. BlakerThe United States forces are stationed in the United Kingdom under the general provisions of the North Atlantic Treaty, the agreement regarding the status of forces of parties to the North Atlantic Treaty (1951) and the Visiting Forces Act 1952. There is also a number of supplementary undertakings and agreements which either amplify these main documents or relate to the use of individual bases or facilities.
More specifically, the use of United States bases in the United Kingdom in an emergency is governed by the agreement reached between Mr. Attlee and President Truman in October 1951 and reaffirmed by Sir Winston Churchill and President Truman in a joint communiqué of January 1952.
Land, including that at Daws Hill, High Wycombe, which is made available under these arrangements is not leased to the United States forces and remains the property of the Ministry of Defence.