HL Deb 20 February 1986 vol 471 c809WA
Lord Kennet

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What are the grounds on which they believe that the alteration of the establishment at Fylingdales to provide it with phased array radar can be compatible with the ABM Treaty, which allows such radar only on the periphery of a signatory of the treaty.

Lord Trefgarne

Under the ABM Treaty the United States and the Soviet Union undertook not to deploy in the future ballistic missile early warning radars except at locations along the periphery of the national territory and oriented outwards. Modernisation of existing early warning radars is not prohibited by the treaty. Since the early warning radar at Fylingdales was deployed long before the treaty was signed in 1972, the Government are confident that it, and its proposed modernisation, are in full conformity with US obligations under the treaty.