HC Deb 18 April 1989 vol 151 cc110-2W
Mr. Cohen

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will make a statement about proposed United States military construction at RAF Upper Heyford, Oxfordshire;

(2) when his Department was first notified of the decision of the United States Air force to apply for funding for (i) additions to the flight simulator facility, (ii) additions to the avionics maintenance shop and (iii) additions to the jet engine shop at RAF Upper Heyford, in fiscal year 1990;

(3) on what date representations were first received from his United States counterpart regarding proposed construction at RAF Upper Heyford of (i) additions to the flight simulator facility, (ii) additions to the avionics maintenance shop and (iii) additions to the jet engine shop;

(4) when he was first aware that the proposed construction at RAF Upper Heyford of (i) additions to the flight simulator facility, (ii) additions to the avionics maintenance shop and (iii) additions to the jet engine shop had been added to the United States military construction budget request for fiscal year 1990;

(5) on what date or dates design work started on the proposed construction at RAF Upper Heyford of (i) additions to the flight simulator facility (ii) additions to the avionics maintenance shop and (iii) additions to the jet engine shop;

(6) which company or companies have been awarded conracts for design work on the proposed construction at RAF Upper Heyford of (i) additions to the flight simulator facility, (ii) additions to the avionics maintenance shop and (iii) additions to the jet engine shop;

(7) on what date or dates the proposed construction at RAF Upper Heyford of (i) additions to the flight simulator facility, (ii) additions to the avionics maintenance shop and (iii) additions to the jet engine shop is scheduled to be started;

(8) which construction contracts for the proposed construction at RAF Upper Heyford of (i) additions to the flight simulator facility, (ii) additions to the avionics maintenance shop and (iii) additions to the jet engine shop have been awarded; and to which company or companies;

(9) on what date or dates the proposed construction at RAF Upper Heyford of (i) additions to the flight simulator facility, (ii) additions to the avionics maintenance shop and (iii) additions to the jet engine shop is scheduled to be completed; and when these facilities are scheduled to be operational;

(10) whether it is normal practice for the United States Air Force to start design work for proposed construction in the United Kingdom before approval for such construction has been given by Her Majesty's Government.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

The budget for the United States military construction programme submitted to Congress at the end of January 1989 for the fiscal years 1990–91 included proposals for additions to the flight simulator facility, the avionics maintenance shop and the jet engine shop at RAF Upper Heyford. The hon. Member was informed of these budgetary proposals in the reply that I gave him on 6 February at columns515–16.

Congress has not yet approved these proposals, nor has the United Kingdom Government authorised work to proceed. Consequently, no contracts have been let for these projects. However, in accordance with normal United States forward planning procedures, some preliminary design work was commissioned from the PSA in August 1988 and the Ministry of Defence was informed of the proposals in parallel.

Mr. Cohen

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will describe the role and function of the proposed construction at RAF Upper Heyford of (i) additions to the flight simulator facility, (ii) additions to the avionics maintenance shop and (iii) additions to the jet engine shop;

(2) what variants of the F-111 aircraft will be supported by the proposed construction at RAF Upper Heyford of (i) additions to the flight simulator facility, (ii) additions to the avionics maintenance shop and (iii) additions to the jet engine shop;

(3) how many aircraft will be supported by the proposed construction at RAF Upper Heyford of (i) additions to the flight simulator facility, (ii) additions to the avionics maintenance shop and (iii) additions to the jet engine shop;

(4) if he will describe the new mission that will be supported by the proposed construction at RAF Upper Heyford of (i) additions to the flight simulator facility, (ii) additions to the avionics maintenance shop and (iii) additions to the jet engine shop.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

The Government have not agreed to any changes to the role or aircraft of the USAF 20th Tactical Fighter Wing stationed at RAF Upper Heyford, nor have they authorised any proposals to alter or expand the facilities at the station, other than for the aircraft currently based there.

Mr. Cohen

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence why the proposed construction at RAF Upper Heyforcl of (i) additions to the flight simulator facility, (ii) additions to the avionics maintenance shop and (iii) additions to the jet engine shop was not included in the answer to the hon. Member for Leyton,Official Report, 9 June 1988, columns 660–62 regarding United States military construction in the United Kingdom.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

These proposals were knot submitted to Congress until January 1989.

Mr. Cohen

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether any other North Atlantic Treaty Organisation countries have been informed of the proposed construction at RAF Upper Heyford of (i) additions to the flight simulator facility, (ii) additions to the avionics maintenance shop and (iii) additions to the jet engine shop.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

No.

Mr. Cohen

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has regarding United States military construction at RAF Upper Heyford for the next five fiscal years.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave him on 6 February 1989 at columns515–16.

Mr. Cohen

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has regarding the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation funded military construction at RAF Upper Heyford for the next five years.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

NATO infrastructure funding for 1990 onwards has not yet been approved.