§ Norman BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) when the US formally asked permission from the UK Government to deploy B-52 bombers to British bases for anticipated operations in Iraq; if he will list the bases involved; and when the UK Government gave their consent; [101686]
(2) how many US B-52s have been authorised to deploy to RAF Fairford; for how long; with which types of ordnance US B-52s will be armed while deployed at RAF Fairford; and whether these will include the Joint Direct Attack Munition. [101687]
§ Mr. HoonI told the House on 3 March 2003,Official Report, column 566, that I had agreed a United States request to deploy fourteen B-52 bombers to RAF Fairford. No time scale has been placed upon their deployment there. The Government have also agreed to a request to base B-52s at Diego Garcia.
184WI am withholding details of the discussions and timings of decisions on the deployment of USAF B-52 aircraft to British bases and their ordnance in accordance with Exemption 1 (Defence, security and international relations) of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.