§ Mr. MaddenTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many GCHQ staff have been placed at Menwith Hill station in each year since 1992, to date and on what basis; what are their primary duties; to whom do they report; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. SoamesThere is a significant GCHQ presence at Menwith Hill station. It is not Government policy however to give more detailed information on the deployment of GCHQ staff. I refer the hon. Member to the Adjournment debate of 25 March 1994 concerning Menwith Hill station,Official Report, columns 609–16.
§ Mr. MaddenTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received about GCHQ staff at Menwith Hill station intercepting domestic and international telephone calls.
346W(2) if he will provide a breakdown for the total cost to date of his Department's plans for the married quarters housing stock;
(3) what is the total annual cost of legal advice for work associated with the Defence Housing Trust and Defence Housing Executive.
§ Mr. JamiesonTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the total amount spent on the Crown Housing Trust since its establishment.
§ Mr. SoamesThe total cost to date of work on new arrangements for the married quarters estate is some £5.4 million. Much of this investment is being realised in the establishment of the Defence Housing Executive, and much of it is also relevant to any form of transfer of the married quarters estate to the private section. The breakdown of these costs is as follows:
§ Mr. SoamesNone.
§ Mr. MaddenTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will permit right hon. and hon. Members to visit Menwith Hill station in north Yorkshire to inspect the station and to be briefed on the activities currently undertaken there; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. SoamesFor operational and security reasons, such visits are not allowed.
§ Mr. MaddenTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the progress by the National Security Agency of America, in respect of complaints made by Ms Lindis Percy, of Bradford, about her treatment by American military personnel when detained by them at Menwith Hill station; what rights Ms Percy has to take legal action against American military personnel; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. SoamesI am unaware of any incidents at Menwith Hill station in which Ms Percy has been detained by American military personnel. It is not for my Department to advise Ms Percy on her legal rights.