HC Deb 07 May 1987 vol 115 cc530-2W
Mrs. Clwyd

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will list all treaties, agreements, memoranda of understanding and other formal arrangements currently in force between the United States of America and the United Kingdom covering the support provided by the United Kingdom Government either directly or indirectly for United States' military bases and installations and facilities in the United Kingdom and its territorial waters and for their expansion in a time of tension or war;

(2) if he will list all treaties, agreements, memoranda of understanding and other formal arrangements currently in force between the United States of America and the United Kingdom covering the use by the United States of military bases, both operational and support, and facilities within the territorial waters of the United Kingdom, the arrangements for the operational control of such bases and facilities, and their expansion in a time of tension and war.

Mr. Stanley

[pursuant to the answer, 1 May 1987, c. 300]: From the information that is readily available, is unclassified and can be released without incurring disproportionate costs I can list the following agreements.

  1. a. The Churchill/Truman understanding 1952;
  2. b. Exchange of notes relating to the sale of tobacco by the United States Government and the construction of housing and community facilities by HM Government 1956;
  3. c. Memorandum of agreement on Fylingdales BMEWS 1960;
  4. d. Agreement on the use of Holy Loch 1960;
  5. e. Lines of communication arrangement 1973;
  6. f. Memorandum of understanding on the use of Royal Air Force bases by United States Air Forces operational units 1974;
  7. g. USAF Rapier MOU 1981;
  8. h. Memorandum of understanding concerning ground-launched cruise missiles 1985;
  9. i. Memorandum of understanding on the modernisation of the BMEWS, RAF Fylingdales 1986;

Mrs. Clwyd

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list all treaties, agreements, memoranda of understanding and other formal arrangements currently in force between the United States of America and the United Kingdom covering the use by the United States of America of bases and facilities in British territory outside the United Kingdom and support provided by the United Kingdom Government either directly or indirectly.

Mr. Stanley

[pursuant to the answer, 1 May 1987, c. 3002]: US military facilities exist at Ascension Island, Bermuda and Diego Garcia under the following instruments respectively: Agreement between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the United States of America concerning the extension of the Bahamas Long Range Proving Ground by the Establishment of Additional Sites in Ascension Island.

  • Dated 25 June 1956.
    • 531
  • Treaty Series No. 25 (1956).
  • Command 9810.
Agreement between the governments of the United Kingdom and the United States of America relating to the Bases Leased to the United States of America and Exchanges of Notes.
  • Dated 27 March 1941.
  • Treaty Series No. 2 (1941).
  • Command 6259.
 Exchange of Notes between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the United States of America concerning a United States Navy Support Facility on Diego Garcia, British Indian Ocean Territory (The Diego Garcia Agreement 1976).
  • Dated 25 February 1976.
  • Treaty Series No. 19 (1976).
  • Command 6413.

Subsequent exchanges for Ascension Island and Bermuda respectively are: Exchange of Notes between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the United States of America concerning the Practical Application of the Agreement of June 25, 1956 for the Addition to the Bahamas Long Range Proving Ground of Sites in Ascension Island.

  • Dated 24–25 August 1959.
  • Treaty Series No. 77 (1959).
  • Command 867.
Exchange of Notes between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the Government of the United States of America concerning the use of the Airfield at Wideawake in Ascension Island by aircraft of the Royal Air Force.
  • Dated 29 August 1962.
  • Treaty Series No. 71 (1962).
  • Command 1869.
 Exchange of Notes between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the United States of America concerning the Establishment on Ascension Island of an Additional Facility to be operated for the United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
  • Dated 7 July 1965.
  • Treaty Series No. 74 (1965).
  • Command 2761.
 Exchange of Notes between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the United States of America concerning Facilities for United States Forces on Ascension Island.
  • Dated 30 March 1973.
  • Treaty Series No. 55 (1973).
  • Command 5311.
 Exchange of Notes between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the United States of America regarding arrangements for the use by United Kingdom Forces of Military Facilities on Ascension Island.
  • Dated 25 March 1985.
  • Treaty Series No. 39 (1985).
  • Command 9590.
 Exchange of Notes between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the United States of America modifying the Leased Bases Agreement of 27th March 1941.
  • Dated 19 July-I August 1950.
  • Treaty Series No. 65 (1950).
  • Command 8076.
 Exchange of Notes between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the United States of America regarding additional Civil Airport facilities at the United States Kindley Air Force Base, Bermuda.
  • Dated 4 June 1968.
  • Treaty Series No. 80 (1968).
  • Command 3753.
 >Exchange of Notes between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the United States of America amending and supplementing the Agreement of 27 March 1941, as amended, regarding Leased Naval and Air Bases on Bermuda.
  • Dated 5–6 December 1978.
  • Treaty Series No. 46 (1979).
  • Command 7561.
 Exchange of Notes between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the United States of America further amending and supplementing the Agreement of 27 March 1941, as amended, regarding Leased Naval and Air Bases on Bermuda.
  • Dated 7 March 1985.
  • Treaty Series No. 46 (1985).
  • Command 9607.

Her Majesty's Government provide certain administrative and logistic support within the terms of these agreements.

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