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Ministry of Defence

Answer

Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what criteria the Government will employ in making a decision on the deployment of a national missile defence system; [126947] (2) if the results of his Department's Technology, Readiness and Risk Assessment programme will be available before a decision is taken on whether to allow UK facilities to be used in a US national missile defence system; [126949] (3) on what basis a decision will be made on whether to allow the USA to upgrade the facilities at Fylingdales for a national missile defence system; [126948] (4) what recent discussions there have been between the UK and the USA regarding options for locating anti-ballistic missile sites in the UK; [126942] (5) what assessment he has (a) made recently and (b) plans to make of the impact of a national missile defence system on the security of the UK. [126946] Mr. Hoon: We have discussed, and continue to discuss, a range of aspects of possible proposals for a US National Missile Defence system with the United States. The US has not asked for UK assistance in the deployment of the proposed system, nor would we expect them to do so until after a US decision on whether to proceed with its deployment. In discussions with the US Administration we have made it clear that the UK would consider any such request carefully, taking into account a wide range of factors, including the implications for UK defence. The MOD's Technology Readiness and Risk Assessment Programme is due to be completed next summer. I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Chingford and Woodford Green (Mr. Duncan Smith) on 12 June 2000, Official Report, column 451W.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

352 c433W; 126947;126949;126948;126942;126946

Session

1999-00

Subjects

Defence Deployment Military bases Modernisation USA Ballistic missile defence RAF Fylingdales

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk