§ Mr. CorbynTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the number of(a) bombing flights, (b) low-flying exercises and (c) personnel deployed by the RAF at Goose Bay for each year since 1983.
§ Mr. NeubertI have nothing to add to the information on low-level training sorties carried out by the RAF at Goose Bay provided on 10 May at columns 472–73 and, by my hon. Friend the Member for Kettering (Mr. Freeman) on 23 November 1987 at column31 to the hon. Member for Meirionnydd Nant Conwy (Dr. Thomas). The number of personnel deployed by the Royal Air Force at Goose Bay at any one time is within the maximum of 350 personnel permitted by the multilateral memorandum of understanding which covers the use of Goose Bay.
§ Mr. CorbynTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment of environmental impact and impact on human life from the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation base at Goose Bay has been made by his Department.
§ Mr. NeubertNone. The environmental impact of the use of the Canadian forces base at Goose Bay is a matter for the Canadian authorities.
§ Mr. CorbynTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received concerning the use of Goose Bay as a North Atlantic Treaty Organisation and RAF training base; and if he will make a statement on its future use.
§ Mr. NeubertMy right hon. Friend has received a number of representations concerning the use of Goose Bay. The RAF, in common with some other members of NATO, makes use of the Canadian facilities at Goose Bay from time to time. This is at the invitation of the Canadian Government, who are responsible for all use, including future use, of the area and its airspace. The RAF continues to value highly the use of the facilities at Goose Bay.