§ Mr. OatenTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what timetable has been set for a decision on the upgrade and use of(a) RAF Fylingdales and (b) RAF Menwith Hill as part of the US Administration's Ballistic Missile Defence System. [99912]
§ Mr. HoonAs I informed the House on 5 February 2003,Official Report, columns 11–12WS, the Government has agreed to the US Administration's request to upgrade the early warning radar at RAF Fylingdales for missile defence purposes. The upgrade work is expected to begin towards the end of this year and take about two years to complete.
In advance of the work beginning, the Government needs to negotiate a detailed agreement with the US covering both the upgrade itself and future arrangements for the upgraded radar, while the US also need to undertake comprehensive design work, site surveys, budgetary planning and other preparatory work.
No request has been received for the use of RAF Menwith Hill for missile defence purposes.