§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Prime Minister what are the total costs incurred since 1979 in establishing, maintaining and supervising cruise missile facilities and associated works at both Greenham Common and Molesworth under the following headings(a) by NATO, (b) by the Ministry of Defence, identifying separately the Royal Air Force (c) by any other Departments of state and (d) by local authorities; and if he will also indicate what moneys have been paid or are owed to Her Majesty's Government by the United States air force for the provision of such facilities.
§ The Prime MinisterThe latest cost estimate for constructing the two cruise missile facilities in the United Kingdom is as follows:
Contributors £ million NATO 59.0 Ministry of Defence (MOD)1 36.9 United States Air Force (USAF) 78.0 Other United Kingdom Government Departments 0.2 Total 174.1 1 Costs specifically to the RAF are not readily identifiable. The cost of security and supervision at both bases since 1979 at current prices is estimated to be £24.9 million. The MOD share of this total was £15.6 million and the USAF made a contribution of £3.4 million. The share of other Government Departments was £0.2 million. Additional policing costs borne by police authorities amounted to £5.7 million.
Maintenance and the provision of base support are the primary responsibility of the USAF.