HC Deb 18 June 2004 vol 422 cc1140-1W
Mr. Willis

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans have been agreed to allow the US Third Air Force and USAFE to take responsibility for the operation of RAF Menwith Hill; and if he will make a statement. [179207]

Mr. Ingram

[holding answer 17 June 2004]: There are no plans for the United States Third Air Force and USAFE to take responsibility for the operation of RAF Menwith Hill. However, discussions are taking place concerning the possible provision, by USAFE, of an administrative and logistic support unit. This will not have any impact on the current management of the base nor the mission, which will remain unchanged.

Mr. Willis

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions his Department has held with the US Air Intelligence Agency about its operation of the RAF Menwith Hill Station. [179209]

Mr. Ingram

[holding answer 17 June 2004]: Ministry of Defence officials work closely on a daily basis with their counterparts in the United States Air Intelligence Agency regarding the operation of RAF Menwith Hill.

Norman Baker

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he permits US forces based in the UK to hold(a) chemical and (b) biological (i) weapons and (ii) counter-weapon material. [178707]

Mr. Hoon

[holding answer 14 June 2004]: There are no United States chemical or biological weapons held in the United Kingdome. Both the US and UK are States Parties to the 1993 Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) and the 1972 Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC). The BTWC prohibits the development, manufacture, acquisition, and stockpiling of any biological weapons.

The US is a declared possessor of chemical weapons under the terms of the CWC and is in the process of destroying its stockpiles under Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons supervision.

Both the CWC and BTWC provide for States Parties to maintain programmes to protect against chemical and biological weapons.

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