§ Mr. LidingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the expenditure from public funds to refurbish the homes of the Commander-in-Chief and Deputy Commander-in-Chief of RAF Strike Command, High Wycombe.
§ Mr. HanleyOn 1 July 1994, the present Commander-in-Chief RAF Strike Command takes up the full-time appointment of Commander-in-Chief Allied Forces Northwest, a new NATO command replacing Allied Forces North. As is normal in these circumstances it is a United Kingdom responsibility to provide him with appropriate accommodation, and he will continue to occupy his present official residence. This change of appointment creates a need for a suitable residence for his successor, as Commander-in-Chief RAF Strike Command, the present deputy Commander-in-Chief RAF Strike Command, and a married quarter at RAF High Wycombe is being upgraded for this purpose. At the same time a United Kingdom-maintained residence in Oslo for the United Kingdom officer holding the post of Commander-in-Chief Allied Forces North will be given up. It is my656W Department's practice to provide service officers in senior command appointments with residences which allow them to offer official hospitality and entertainment commensurate with their status.