HC Deb 07 June 1988 vol 134 c547W
Mr. Cohen

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if there are any plans to purchase the weapons storage and security systems from the United States of America for use on RAF airfields.

Mr. Sainsbury

Various options are being examined to improve the storage of our air-delivered nuclear weapons but no firm decisions have yet been taken. There are, consequently, no plans at present to purchase the United States weapons survivability and security system for use by the Royal Air Force.

Mr. Cohen

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has been given by the United States authorities concerning the year in which the United States Air Force is expected to seek Congressional approval for the commencement of construction of weapons storage and security system vaults at(a) RAF Bentwaters, (b) RAF Upper Heyford, (c) RAF Lakenheath, (d) RAF Greenham Common and (e) RAF Molesworth.

Mr. Ian Stewart

It is understood that the United States Administration seeks Congressional approval each year for the funding of the construction programme for weapon survivability and security systems for the following fiscal year. No decision has yet been made on the year in which approval would be sought for sites in United Kingdom.