Fylingdales Early Warning Radar (Hansard, 10 February 2003)

§ Baroness Crawley

My right honourable friend the Defence Secretary (Mr Hoon) informed the House on 17 December 2002 (Official Report cols. 45–7WS) in another place of the receipt of a request from the United States Government to upgrade the early warning radar at Fylingdales for missile defence purposes.

The Government have encouraged parliamentary and public discussion of the issues involved. On 17 October, we informed the House of current work in the US on missile defence and on 9 December published a discussion paper inviting interested parties to contribute their views. We have received a large number of responses both from individuals and organisations, and we have considered all contributions carefully. My right honourable friend the Defence Secretary visited North Yorkshire to explain what the upgrade would involve and to hear at first hand the views of local people. We have engaged in initial discusions with the planning authorities. In a Statement on 15 January (Official Report, cols. 696–99) my right honourable friend the Defence Secretary informed the House in another place of the Government's preliminary conclusion that it was in the UK's interest to agree to the US request. He gave evidence to the Defence Select Committee on the same day and addressed points raised by honourable Members in the defence debate on 22 January in another place. We welcome the Select Committee's conclusion in its report published on 29 January that the UK should agree to the upgrade.

In the course of these discussions we have been able to clarify that the upgrade essentially comprises computer hardware and software modification and involves no new development or change to the external appearance or power output of the radar; the radar 59WA will continue to fulfil its long-established ballistic missile early warning system (BMEWS) role; it will continue to be operated and staffed by the Royal Air Force, and we will continue to enjoy full access to its data; and the upgrade does not of itself commit the UK Government to any greater participation in the US missile defence programme. It does, however, keep open the prospect of acquiring missile defence capabilities for the UK should we desire such protection at some point in the future. We will continue discussions with the local planning authorities on the detail of the upgrade work.

We are now satisfied that we have been able to take fully into account the views of all interested parties in coming to a decision. We are therefore today replying to the United States Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld, conveying the Government's agreement to the US request. We are separately negotiating a technical memorandum of understanding to give British industry the best possible opportunities to win work on the US programme.