CAAB

1 Sept 2004 : Column 721W—continued

RAF Menwith Hill

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many visits to RAF Menwith Hill were made by US personnel not resident or working on the base during 2002–03. [185896]

Mr. Ingram: During 2002–03 there were many visits to RAF Menwith Hill by US personnel. These ranged from VIP visits to short term visits associated specifically with work on various aspects of the Menwith Hill mission. The exact number of visits is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether requests for visits to RAF Menwith Hill are determined by his Department; and what discussions take place with the US authorities before the response to individual requests is determined. [185897]

Mr. Ingram: Her Majesty's Government retains control over the use of facilities at RAF Menwith Hill. Therefore any decision on who can and cannot visit RAF Menwith Hill, as well as other United States Visiting Force (USVF) bases, rests with the Government.

All requests by MPs to visit RAF Menwith Hill are referred to Defence Ministers. Due to national security considerations, visits to RAF Menwith Hill are restricted to those with an official oversight function such as Government Ministers and the members of the all-party Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC). US authorities have no part in this decision making process.

Working visits to the base by military and civilian staff are approved locally by the RAF Station Commander.

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what rules of engagement (a) the American National Guard and (b) the US security police personnel apply concerning peaceful protesters found at RAF bases where they are stationed. [185936]

Mr. Caplin: It is not our practice to comment on UK Rules of Engagement or those of our US allies and the information is therefore withheld under Exemption 1 (Defence, Security and International Relations) of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what procedures have been agreed between the US visiting forces and personnel and the Ministry of Defence Police Agency to deal with peaceful protesters at RAF Menwith Hill. [185937]

Mr. Ingram: Peaceful protesters detected at RAF Menwith Hill are dealt with by Ministry of Defence Police using their powers according to their statutory office of Constable.

1 Sept 2004 : Column 722W

Written Ministerial Statements

Tuesday 21 December 2004

CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

Parliamentary Questions

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs (Mr. Christopher Leslie): Access rights to information held by public authorities under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 come into force on 1 January 2005.

The following guidance sets out procedures for dealing with complaints about the handling of requests for information. This guidance makes clear that there should be no inconsistencies between the provision of information in answer to parliamentary questions and information given to citizens under the Freedom of Information Act.

Where a member is dissatisfied with the answer to a parliamentary question there are well-established parliamentary routes Members may follow such as: tabling further questions; seeking to raise the issues on the Adjournment; or a complaint to the Public Administration Committee, that may seek to follow up the issue with Ministers.

Alternatively Members may write to the appropriate Minister expressing their concern and setting out the information they are seeking. Such correspondence shall be treated by departments as a new request for information requiring a full internal review and fresh decision. The request will attract all the provisions and appeal mechanisms afforded by the Freedom of Information Act, including if necessary an appeal to the Information Commissioner.

Any investigation by the Information Commissioner will therefore be related to the correspondence to the Minister and not extend to the answer to the parliamentary question or to any other parliamentary proceedings which are protected by parliamentary privilege. In addition the Cabinet Office plans to issue revised guidance to officials on drafting answers to parliamentary questions taking account of the Freedom of Information Act. [21.12.2004]

Written Ministerial Statements

Tuesday 12 October 2004

DEFENCE

Missile Defence

The Secretary of State for Defence (Mr. Geoffrey Hoon): The Ministry of Defence has signed an agreement setting out mechanisms for co-operation with the US in research, development, test and evaluation activities related to missile defence. This agreement is made under the framework memorandum

12 Oct 2004 : Column 10WS

of understanding on missile defence that I announced to the House on 12 June 2003, Official Report, column 57WS, and comes into immediate effect. I am placing in the Library of the House of Commons a copy of this agreement, although parts of the text relating to the handling of classified and export-controlled information have been withheld at the request of the US. This agreement replaces the 1985 strategic defence initiative memorandum of understanding as the vehicle for cooperation between the UK and US in the field of missile defence. It is intended that the new agreement will improve co-operation by providing information transfer and contracting mechanisms in keeping with current US and UK practices and the current state of development of the US missile defence capability.