§ Mr. Matthew TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what meetings he held with members and officials of the United States Government during his visit to the United States on 2-3 June 1997; and if he will list the date and location of each meeting, and the names of the members and officials of the United States Government at each meeting. [93949]
§ Mr. HoonDuring his visit to the US from 2 to 3 June 1997, my predecessor's only formal meeting was with Mr. William Cohen, the US Secretary for Defense. General John Shalikashvili, the then Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, was present during part of the discussions. This meeting took place in the Pentagon on Tuesday 3 June 1997.
§ Mr. Matthew TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence when his Department started discussions with the United States Government on the decision to invest in the US National Ignition Facility; with which US Departments these discussions have been held; to which United States Department, and on what date, his Department notified the decision to invest in this facility; whether the decision to invest in this facility will be covered by a memorandum of understanding; when his Department expects to formalise the decision in a contract with the US; and with which United States Department this contract will be signed. [93932]
§ Mr. KilfoyleDiscussions between officials of my Department and the US Department of Energy on the possibility of optimising National Ignition Facility (NIF) technology began in September 1998. Written confirmation of the United Kingdom's decision to invest in the NIF was conveyed to the US Department of Energy on 9 June 1999. The US Department of Defense was also made aware of out intentions. The arrangements, which are being made under the aegis of the 1958 UK-US Mutual Defence Agreement, will be formalised in a number of contracts covering the procurement process between my Department and the US Department of Energy.
§ Mr. Matthew TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many United States personnel have visited the Atomic Weapons Establishment (Aldermaston) since 1 January; and from which United States Departments and establishments these visitors have come. [93944]
§ Mr. KilfoyleA total of 381 United States personnel have visited AWE Aldermaston between 1 January and 30 September 1999. The visitors represented the following:
- Department of Energy
- Department of Defense
- Defense Threat Reduction Agency
- Los Alamos, Lawrence Livermore and Sandia National Laboratories
- Kaiser-Hill
- Mason & Hanger, Pantex
- Westinghouse Savannah River
423 - Chew & Associates Inc
- Allied Signal, Kansas City Division
- Lockheed Martin, Y-12 Plant
- Lockheed Martin Missiles Systems
- ITT SSC
- Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute
- University of California
- McCrone Associates
- Battelle Pacific Northwest Laboratories
- Applied Research Associates Inc.