HL Deb 02 November 1998 vol 594 cc11-2WA
Lord Kennet

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the United States Administration informed them of, or consulted them about, the dispatch of three B-2 and three B-52 bombers to "training exercises" over the Pacific Ocean in early September; whether they were based in Diego Garcia; and whether they have been consulted by the United States Administration in the course of the latter's consideration (as reported in Aviation Week, 14 September, pages 58–9) of a pre-emptive strike to destroy Taepo Dong missiles in North Korea. [HL3451]

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean

Her Majesty's Government were not informed of USAF training exercises over the Pacific in September; no aircraft based in Diego Garcia took part in such exercises; and we have not been consulted over possible American consideration of a pre-emptive strike against North Korean missiles.