HC Deb 23 June 1988 vol 135 cc708-9W
Ms. Short

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the very low frequency communications relay station at Rugby was first made available to United States forces.

Mr. Freeman

The site at Daventry was first made available to the United States in 1961. It has not been used since 1978 but it is proposed to reactivate it next year.

Ms. Short

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which United States military service is responsible for the very low frequency communications relay station at Rugby.

Mr. Freeman

The United States microwave communications relay facility at Daventry is the responsibility of the United States air force.

Ms. Short

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the United States very low frequency communications relay station at Rugby includes both transmitter and receiver facilities.

Mr. Freeman

The United States communications station at Daventry is a microwave relay facility not a very low frequency system. It includes both transmitter and receiver facilities.

Ms. Short

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the relationship between the British-owned and operated very low frequency communications facilities at Rugby and the United States very low frequency communications relay station at Rugby.

Mr. Freeman

The British-owned very low frequency communications facility at Rugby is a British Telecom transmitting station. The United States microwave facility referred to in my answer of 7 June at columns556–57 is at Daventry. There is no connection between the two stations.

Ms. Short

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the United States very low frequency communications relay station at Rugby is notified to pilots of aircraft as a high intensity radio transmission area.

Mr. Freeman

The United States microwave communications relay facility at Daventry is not a high intensity radio transmission system and consequently is not notified to pilots as such.

Ms. Short

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for or on behalf of which United States forces communications systems the very low frequency communications facility at Rugby is operated; if Her Majesty's Government have any right of access to the traffic carried via the very low frequency communications facility at Rugby; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Freeman

The United States microwave communications relay facility at Daventry is part of the digital European backbone communications system. This provides communictions for United States forces stationed in Europe operating in support of NATO, though other NATO nations, including the United Kingdom, have access to the system.