§ Mr. Boyesasked the Secretary of State for Defence whether there are any circumstances in which the United Kingdom commanding officer at Greenham common is under the direction of the United States air force commanding officer at the base in matters relating to its security; which commander has overall responsibility for defending the outermost perimeter wire and which has overall responsibility for the security of the silos.
§ Mr. StanleyUnder the 1951 agreement regarding the status of forces of parties to the north At [antic treaty the United States commander at Greenham common is fully empowered to protect the entire base area within the outer406W perimeter fence. At a time when security within the base has been supplemented by MOD and service personnel these personnel are under the immediate operational command of the senior RAF officer at Greenham common.
§ Mr. Boyesasked the Secretary of State for Defence why a letter from the hon. Member for Houghton and Washington to the commander United States air force at Greenham common asking whether or not the United States air force commander would be prepared to give an instruction to his troops to fire on peace demonstrators is to be replied to by his Department.
§ Mr. StanleyGreenham common is an RAF station, for which, as for other RAF stations, Defence Ministers are answerable to Parliament.
§ Mr. Boyesasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy that only Ministry of Defence personnel are deployed in ensuring the security of the outer perimeter fence at the Greenham common missiles base; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. StanleyNo. United States personnel also have security responsibilities to discharge.