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Proliferation in Parliament

Back to Proliferation in Parliament, December 2007 - February 2008

Westminster Parliament

Key to Column Numbering

W	Written Answers, House of Commons
WS	Written Ministerial Statements, House of Commons
WA	Written Answer, House of Lords
Column number with no letters	Oral Proceedings in the House of Commons

US Bases

USA: Armed Forces, Written Answers, 28 Jan 2008, Column 39W
Military Aircraft, Written Answers, 15 Jan 2008, Column 1135W
Military Bases: USA, Written Answers, 14 Jan 2008, Column 886W

USA: Armed Forces, Written Answers, 28 Jan 2008, Column 39W

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many US visiting forces are based at each location in the UK.

Mr. Bob Ainsworth: The latest available figures listed as follows have been provided by the United States Visiting Force (USVF). They are approximate figures and include US military and their supporting civilian component. In most cases it has not been possible to provide figures for each location made available to the USVF because the USVF database only records its numbers by command and not by location.

28 Jan 2008 : Column 40W

USVF command/location Number of USVF

100th Air Refuelling Wing (includes HQ Third Air Force staff)

RAF Mildenhall, Suffolk

3,400

48th Fighter Wing

RAF Lakenheath, Suffolk

⁽¹⁾5,190

RAF Feltwell, Norfolk

⁽¹⁾—

501st Combat Support Wing—420th Air Base Group

RAF Fairford, Gloucestershire

⁽²⁾240

RAF Welford, Berkshire

⁽²⁾—

501st Combat Support Wing—423rd Air Base Group

RAF Alconbury, Cambridgeshire

⁽³⁾425

RAF Molesworth, Cambridgeshire

⁽³⁾—

RAF Upwood, Cambridgeshire

⁽³⁾—

501st Combat Support Wing—422nd Air Base Group

RAF Croughton, Northants

⁽⁴⁾330

RAF Barford St. John, Oxfordshire

⁽⁴⁾—

Blenheim Crescent, London⁽⁵⁾

⁽⁴⁾—

Edison House, London⁽⁶⁾

⁽⁴⁾—

Providence Court, London⁽⁷⁾

⁽⁴⁾—

501st Combat Support Wing—421st Air Base Group and National Security Agency

RAF Menwith Hill, North Yorkshire

1,400

Joint Maritime Facility, RAF St. Mawgan, Cornwall

130

^{(5 )}The USVF is currently in the process of moving staff into Blenheim Crescent, London, with the final total expected to be around 120. 16 October 2007, Official Report, column 943W refers.
⁽⁶⁾ There will be no USVF presence at Edison House, London, after the lease expires on that building on 31 January 2008.
⁽⁷⁾ A total of 17 US personnel are assigned to 2 Providence Court, London as stated in my answer of 13 November 2007, Official Report, column 122W.

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200708/cmhansrd/
cm080128/text/80128w0008.htm#column_39W

Military Aircraft, Written Answers, 15 Jan 2008, Column 1135W

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list those (a) establishments and (b) parcels of land where the US authorities have been granted exclusive occupation by his Department.

Mr. Bob Ainsworth: The United States Visiting Force (USVF) has never been granted exclusive occupation of UK bases; rather they are made available under the terms of the NATO Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) 1951, and other arrangements. The following establishments in the United Kingdom are currently occupied by the USVF under the terms of the NATO SOFA of 1951:

Blenheim Crescent, London.
Joint Maritime Facility at RAF St. Mawgan, Cornwall.
RAF Alconbury, Cambridgeshire.

15 Jan 2008 : Column 1137W

RAF Barford St. John, Oxfordshire
RAF Croughton, Northants.
RAF Fairford, Gloucestershire.
RAF Feltwell, Norfolk
RAF Lakenheath, Suffolk.
RAF Menwith Hill, North Yorkshire.
RAF Mildenhall, Suffolk.
RAF Molesworth, Cambridgeshire.
RAF Upwood, Cambridgeshire.
RAF Welford, Berkshire.

In addition, Edison House and Providence Court in London are privately owned buildings that MOD leases on behalf of the USVF. The USVF also has family quarters housing allocated to them, in several locations in the UK.

UK nationals work in a variety of roles at all the principal USVF bases. At RAF Menwith Hill and the Joint Maritime Facility at RAF St. Mawgan there is a joint UK-US mission, where UK nationals are also employed in an operational role.
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200708/cmhansrd/
cm080115/text/80115w0013.htm#column_1135W

Military Bases: USA, Written Answers, 14 Jan 2008, Column 886W

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of the Tiger Team report into security at RAF bases occupied by US forces.

Mr. Bob Ainsworth: I will place a digest of the USAFE Tiger Team report on security at RAF bases provided by the UK for the use of US visiting forces in the Library of the House. This is already in the public domain following a request from a member of the public in 2006. A copy of the digest is enclosed with this answer for ease of reference. The full report has been exempted from publication under Section 31 (Law Enforcement) and Section 38 (Health and Safety) of the Freedom of Information Act.
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200708/cmhansrd/
cm080114/text/80114w0015.htm#column_886W

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