§ 20. Miss McIntoshTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the role of RAF Fylingdales in the missile defence system. [1202]
§ 23. Mr. BradyTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the role of RAF Fylingdales in missile defence systems. [1205]
§ Mr. HoonThe US Administration are considering a range of options for missile defence both in the short and long-term. These include airborne and sea-based options, as well as options similar to those considered by the previous US Administration. They have not yet decided which of these options they will seek to deploy. It therefore remains too early to say whether or not a role for RAF Fylingdales will be proposed as part of any system.
§ 37. Lynne JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the benefits to the United Kingdom of the missile defence system proposed by President Bush. [1219]
§ Mr. HoonPresident Bush has not yet decided what sort of missile defence system the United States will deploy. It is therefore premature to carry out any such assessment.
§ Jeremy CorbynTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with his United States counterparts concerning national missile defence. [1196]
§ Mr. HoonI have discussed missile defence with the US Defence Secretary, Donald Rumsfeld. I also discussed the subject regularly with his predecessor. I have consistently made it clear that we share US concerns about the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction360W and their means of delivery, and that we will continue to work together to tackle the potential threat with a comprehensive strategy. But it remains the case that the US has not decided how it wishes to proceed with missile defence and has made no request for the use of facilities in the UK.