§ Mr. Stevensasked the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to introduce international staff into the headquarters of the UKAIR major subordinate command of NATO; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. StanleyHeadquarters United Kingdom Air Forces (UKAIR) was first established in 1975 at HQ RAF Strike Command, High Wycombe, and since that time has been manned by RAF personnel. It is however one of SACEUR's major subordinate command headquarters, the remainder of which, like SHAPE itself, are manned by international staffs drawn from our NATO allies. A proposal has been made that in future HQ UKAIR should also have an international staff whose membership would of course include United Kingdom military personnel. This proposal has been endorsed by the NATO Defence Planning Committee and, subject to parliamentary approval of UKAIR's formal designation as a NATO HQ, I have agreed that a small international staff be established at HQ UKAIR at the earliest opportunity.
To designate UKAIR formally as a NATO headquarters and provide the standard facilities required for an international staff stationed at a NATO HQ in the United Kingdom, orders amending the International Headquarters and Defence Organisations (Designations and Privileges) Order 1965, and the Visiting Forces and International Headquarters (Application of Law) Order 1965, will be introduced. These amending orders will be subject to affirmative resolution.