Oral Answers to Questions — Ascension Island – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 4 November 1965.
Mr John Biggs-Davison
, Chigwell
12:00,
4 November 1965
asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will make a statement about United States' rights and facilities in Ascension.
Mr Anthony Greenwood
, Rossendale
In 1956 the United States were permitted to extend to sites on Ascension Island the Long Range Proving Ground already established in the Bahamas to track guided missiles fired from Cape Kennedy. This year they were also permitted to establish a station to track space craft. The conditions governing both facilities are contained in White Papers (Cmnd. 9810 and Cmnd. 2741). There is also a purely temporary facility for air/sea rescue in connection with the Gemini space flight.
Mr John Biggs-Davison
, Chigwell
Could the right hon. Gentleman say what advantage accrues to the people of Ascension Island? Can he assure us that there is no erosion of British sovereign rights?
Mr Anthony Greenwood
, Rossendale
There is certainly no erosion of British sovereign rights. This is entirely a matter with the treaty and the agreement which has been reached. Some slight prosperity accrues to the people of Ascension Island from these facilities.
Secretary of State was originally the title given to the two officials who conducted the Royal Correspondence under Elizabeth I. Now it is the title held by some of the more important Government Ministers, for example the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.
