HC Deb 23 March 1989 vol 149 cc757-8W
Mr. Cohen

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what representations his Department has received from his United States counterpart, or any service or agency responsible thereto, regarding possible deployment of(a) European distribution system warehousing facilities or (b) aircraft from the United States Air Force 10th Military Airlift Squadron or similar unit at RAF Greenham Common;

(2) what representations his Department has received from his United States counterpart, or any service or agency responsible thereto, regarding possible redeploy-ment of warehousing or maintenance facilities from RAF Kemble to RAF Greenham Common.

Mr. Neubert

RAF Greenham Common has been designated as a NATO stand-by operating base for many years and we envisage that this role will continue after the cruise missiles have been withdrawn. No decisions have yet been taken on additional roles thereafter, though we anticipate that the base will remain available to the United States authorities for military use. It is not our practice to speculate on alternative future uses for military installations.

Mr. Cohen

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations his Department has received from his United States counterpart, or any service or agency responsible thereto, regarding possible deployment of United States Air Force C-130 aircraft.

Mr. Neubert

United States Air Force C-130 aircraft are stationed at RAF Mildenhall. These and other C-130 aircraft deploy to and from the United Kingdom routinely. The hon. Member may be referring to the forthcoming Air National Guard exercise Volant Golpher, which has recently been approved by the Ministry of Defence. This will take place between 4–17 June, when 9 C-130 aircraft of the 109th tactical airlift squadron will deploy to RAF Abingdon.

Mr. Cohen

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations his Department has received from his United States counterpart, or any service or agency responsible thereto, regarding possible deployment of United States Air Force RF-4Cs at RAF Alconbury.

Mr. Neubert

The Ministry of Defence has recently approved the planned deployment of 12 United States Air Force (USAF) RF-4C aircraft to RAF Alconbury during the period 8–11 April for exercise Coronet Hoop. This exercise is part of the annual programme of short term deployments designed to provide experience to USAF reservist aircrew of locations in which they might operate in time of war.

Mr. Cohen

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has about whether the maintenance facilities for RF-4Cs at RAF Alconbury were dismantled when the 10th tactical reconnaisance wing of the United States Air Force at RAF Alconbury ceased using these aircraft.

Mr. Neubert

I understand that the maintenance facilities at RAF Alconbury used to support the RAF-4CE. of the 10th tactical reconaissance wing were removed after the wing left the base in 1987.