To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which (a) Ministers, (b) members of the Intelligence and Security Committee and (c) other hon. Members have visited (i) RAF Menwith Hill, (ii) RAF Molesworth, (iii) RAF Lakenheath, (iv) RAF Mildenhall, (v) RAF Croughton, (vi) RAF Fairford, (vii) RAF Fylingdales and (viii) RAF St. Mawgan since January 2000; and what the date was of each such visit. (122920)

[holding answer 23 February 2007]: Since January 2000 Defence Ministers have visited the RAF stations at Menwith Hill, Molesworth, Lakenheath, Mildenhall, Croughton, Fairford, Fylingdales and St. Mawgan on the following occasions:

Secretary of State

5 July 2001—Visit to Menwith Hill

6 January 2003—Visit to RAF Fylingdales

15 July 2005—Visit to RAF Fairford

Minister for the Armed Forces

24 February 2000—Visit to RAF Menwith Hill

26 June 2003—Attendance at a public meeting at RAF Fylingdales

19 October 2004—Visit to RAF Mildenhall

17 August 2006—Visit to RAF Menwith Hill and RAF Fylingdales

12 October 2006—Visit to RAF Fairford

16 October 2006—Visit to RAF Molesworth

Minister for Defence Procurement

21 July 2002—Visit to RAF Fairford

18 July 2003—RIAT Dinner at RAF Fairford

Under Secretary of State for Defence

16 July 2004—Visit to RAF Fairford

Our records also show that members of the Intelligence and Security Committee made visits to RAF Menwith Hill on 22 May 2000, 18 October 2004 and 13 July 2006. Visits by other Members of Parliament to the RAF stations include:

RAF Menwith Hill

Quentin Davies MP visited on 18 July 2001

RAF Molesworth

Jonathan Djanogly MP visited on 10 January 2003, 25 July 2003, 21 April 2006, 29 September 2006 and 16 October 2006

RAF Mildenhall

James Paice MP visited on 7 July 2006

Richard Spring MP visited on 18 January 2002, 19 October 2004 and 14 July 2006

RAF Croughton

Timothy Boswell MP visited on 26 May 2005

RAF Fairford

The right hon. James Arbuthnot MP visited on 14 July 2006

Colin Breed MP visited on 14 July 2006

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown MP visited on 24 September 2003 and 14 July 2006

The right hon. Iain Duncan Smith MP visited on 16 April 2003

Adam Holloway MP visited on 14 July 2006

Gerald Howarth MP visited on 15 July 2005 and 15 July 2006

Mark Lancaster MP visited on 14 July 2006

Ian Liddell-Granger MP visited on 14 July 2006

Andrew Rosindell MP visited on 15 July 2005 and 14 July 2006

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the use of military airfields in the UK. (129305)

The number and operation of military airfields is constantly under review to ensure that the best use is made of the Defence Estate for our armed forces.