To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what approaches have been received from the United States authorities concerning the deployment of a United States Navy submarine tender ship to Holy loch certified to handle, load, store and maintain nuclear and conventional Tomahawk submarine-launched cruise missiles;(2) what discussions have taken place, or are under way, concerning the continued use of Holy loch by the United States Navy after the date when United States Poseidon ballistic missile-carrying submarines based at Holy loch are decommissioned;(3) what information he has on the effect of United States plans for the future of its Poseidon SSBNs on the future of the facility at Holy loch.

The long-term use of the Holy loch facility is a matter for discussion between the United Kingdom and United States Governments. No decision has yet been taken.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what facilities exist at Holy loch for the maintenance, repair, storage and transfer of Tomahawk submarine-launched cruise missiles.

A normal range of facilities exist at Holy loch for the logistic support of United States Navy nuclear-powered submarines.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if current agreements between the British and United States Governments require the United States authorities to seek permission or inform his Department before a visit is made by a United States Navy attack submarine to the Holy loch submarine facility;(2) if the current agreements between the British and United States Governments concerning the use of the Holy loch submarine facility require the United States authorities to seek and obtain the permission of the British Government before the replacement of the current submarine tender with another vessel certified to load, maintain and store submarine-launched cruise missiles;(3) if the United States authorities informed his Department before replacing the previous submarine tender at the Holy loch with the USS Simon Lake.

The Governments of the United Kingdom and the United States maintain the closest links over the use of the facilities at Holy loch.