§ Lord Brockwayasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the statement by Lord Trefgarne that the military base at Greenham Common and similar bases elsewhere are under joint command (Official Report, 16th February; col 352) is not subject to the qualification that at Greenham Common the Commander is Colonel Miller, an American, and the Deputy Commander an RAF officer; and whether a similar arrangement operates at other bases to which American forces are attached.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Armed Forces (Lord Trefgarne): I am afraid that the noble Lord has misunderstood my earlier answer. The Joint Defence Force at RAF Greenham Common exists to protect the cruise missiles which are based there. The force is integrated at all levels of command to enable it to operate effectively as a truly joint unit; and it has an RAF deputy commander and a USAF commander. In exercising day-to-day operational control of the force the USAF commander acts in accordance with a policy approved by both governments.
These arrangements arc unique to the Joint Defence Force, and therefore do not apply at any other RAF stations which have been made available to US forces.