§ Mr. MaddenTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to renew the American security of tenure at Menwith Hill Station when it expires in May 1997; and whether any proposal to renew the lease will be brought to the House for approval. [33948]
§ Mr. SoamesThe United States forces, who are in the United Kingdom pursuant to the NATO status of forces agreement of 1951, use Menwith Hill Station under confidential administrative arrangements between the Governments of the United Kingdom and the United States of America. It is not our practice to comment on the details of such arrangements. No lease has ever been granted.
§ Mr. MaddenTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many injunctions are currently in force to prevent intrusions at Mentwith Hill Station; and if he will name those against whom injunctions have been obtained. [33961]
§ Mr. SoamesOne injunction is in place against Ms Percy.
§ Mr. MaddenTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many injunction proceedings have been started against people who have trespassed at the American National Security Agency base at Menwith Hill Station since the one brought against Ms Lindis Percy in October 1991. [33954]
§ Mr. SoamesNone. However, we reserve the right to bring injunctions against any persons who persist in trespassing on Ministry of Defence property where they have no right to be.
677W
§ Mr. MaddenTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to give powers to the National Security Agency of America to be a lawful user of Menwith Hill Station in relation to the proposed byelaws; how long his legal department has been working on the drafting of new byelaws; and at what total cost. [33959]
§ Mr. SoamesThe National Security Agency of America is already in lawful occupation of the Menwith Hill Station site under the terms of the confidential administrative arrangements between the Governments of the United Kingdom and the United States of America, and will continue to be a "lawful user" of the site in relation to the proposed byelaws. Work on a review of byelaws has been in progress for approximately two years, involving staff from several areas of the Department; the costs involved could be calculated only at disproportionate cost.
§ Mr. MaddenTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people have been arrested and prosecuted for aggravated trespass under the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 at the America National Security Agency base at Menwith Hill. [33956]
§ Mr. SoamesOne person has been arrested under the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 at Menwith Hill Station. The question of prosecution is still under consideration.
§ Mr. MaddenTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence who at Menwith Hill Station will be required to sign the proposed byelaws for the purpose of enforcement of byelaws. [33962]
§ Mr. SoamesThe byelaws, when made, will be signed by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence. As with all other Ministry of Defence sites, the authorisation for purposes of enforcement of byelaws will be signed by the senior United Kingdom officer with security responsibilities at the establishment concerned; at Menwith Hill Station this is at present the chief inspector, Ministry of Defence police.
§ Mr. MaddenTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish or place in the Library the precise wording of the security of tenure document regarding the leasing of Menwith Hill Station to the National Security Agency of America. [33947]
§ Mr. SoamesThis is a confidential administrative arrangements between Her Majesty's Government and the Government of the United States. It would therefore not be appropriate to publish or to comment on the details of such arrangements.
§ Mr. MaddenTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what grounds it is necessary to introduce new byelaws at Menwith Hill Station in addition to existing criminal and civil remedies to deter intruders. [33960]
§ Mr. SoamesThe Menwith Hill Station byelaws are the first set in a complete revision of byelaws for all establishments which we consider require them. They are intended to provide protection for all MOD establishments where other criminal or civil law does not provide sufficient remedy.
678W
§ Mr. MaddenTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people have appealed against their convictions under the HMS Forest Moor and Menwith Hill Station Byelaws 1986 since they were declared defective on their face in the High Court in July 1992; how many of these appeals were contested; and how many were(a) upheld and (b) dismissed. [33953]
§ Mr. SoamesThe information requested is not held by my Department.
§ Mr. MaddenTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the United States Army handed control of Menwith Hill Station to the USAF/NSA electronic surveillance group; for what reasons the transfer of control was made; what parliamentary procedures applied; if the change of control fell within the remit of the terms of the War Office/USAF agreement on 11 December 1951 under which the USAF were given the right to occupy and control RAF bases in Britain; and whether this agreement extends to non-Royal Air Force bases. [33949]
§ Mr. SoamesIn 1966, with the agreement of Her Majesty's Government, Menwith Hill Station became a field element of the National Security Agency. United States forces use Menwith Hill Station under confidential arrangements between the Governments of the United Kingdom and the United States of America. It is not our policy to comment on the details of such arrangements.