§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the new space based infra-red system under construction at RAF Menwith Hill will be operated by US forces personnel. [41779]
§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total cost of employing Ministry of Defence Police at RAF Menwith Hill in the most recent year for which figures are available; and what proportion of the cost was met by(a) his Department and (b) the US Government. [41776]
§ Dr. ReidThe Ministry of Defence Police is a civilian police force constituted under statute by the Ministry of Defence Police Act 1987. The Chief Constable of the Ministry of Defence Police is independent of Ministerial, Departmental and political influence in the exercise of his constabulary powers. The total cost of policing RAF Menwith Hill for financial year 1997–98 was £1,915,122 of which £1,762,263 was recovered from the US Government. The US Government refund my Department all Ministry of Defence Police costs, other than overtime occasioned by the activities of protesters, in respect of RAF Menwith Hill.