§ Mr. Llew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence at what time and on what date the United States Government requested permission to use the British base on Diego Garcia for the re-fuelling of bombers during the US military action against Iraq in September 1996; and when Her Majesty's Government acceded to the request. [40495]
784W
§ Mr. SoamesA request from the United States Government to use the US-operated facilities on Diego Garcia for tanker refuelling was received by Her Majesty's Government on 2 September and approval for this was given later on the same day.