Towards the end of 2002, the UK Government made significant statements which indicated a growing willingness to support the concept, if not the detail, of missile defence systems.

On 12 October, Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon told the House of Commons that U.S. officials had visited London, other European capitals and NATO HQ during the summer “to set out possible approaches to missile defence and to repeat U.S. willingness to offer protection to friends and allies”.

It is right that we recognise the potential contribution of missile defence to a comprehensive strategy to deal with the threat from ballistic missiles – a strategy that also includes non-proliferation and counter-proliferation measures, diplomacy and deterrence.

He went on to start that the U.S. Administration had not made a decision about the “precise future architecture” of a missile defence system, nor had there been a formal request for the use of RAF Fylingdales. Such a request would be seriously considered but only if “we were satisfied that the overall security of the UK and the alliance would be enhanced”.

Most importantly, after months of prevarication in response to calls to widen the debate, Mr Hoon said:

I have asked for some detailed analytical work to be completed on the implications of missile defence and its relationship with other elements of a comprehensive strategy against the ballistic missile threat. We welcome parliamentary and public discussion of the issues involved. I therefore intend to make available in the coming months further analytical and discussion material as our work progresses, and we will be ready to discuss these issues in the House at the appropriate time.

On 4 November, questions about which European partners support missile defence, if British taxpayers’ money has been committed to missile defence and if parliamentarians would be permitted to vote on the issue were put to the Defence Secretary. He said that the questions were premature and he was only prepared to restate that material was being prepared for a debate by the Ministry of Defence.

In a wide ranging speech at the Foreign Policy Centre on 13 November, Geoff Hoon reminded his audience that NATO was already examining the “threat to deployed forces from ballistic missiles” and that “it also needs to look carefully at the emerging threat from ballistic missiles to the territory and population centres of NATO nations”. “The U.S. programme on missile defence is gathering momentum” in a vast enterprise involving cutting edge technologies which will require a massive effort over the coming years, he said.

( http://news.mod.uk/news/press/news_press_notice.asp?newsItem_id=2143 )

On 26 November, the Secretary of State for Defence was asked whether a formal mechanism would be made available for the public to register their views on missile defence with his Department.  Mr. Hoon replied that “Members of the public are welcome to write to the Ministry of Defence with their views on missile defence. I intend to publish shortly some discussion material as an aid to public debate”.

On 9 December, the Secretary of State told members of parliament that he had placed “further analytical and discussion material in the Library of the House” and that “the paper will also be distributed widely and will be available on the Ministry of Defence website”.

( http://www.mod.uk/linked_files/issues/missiledefence/missiledef.pdf .)

In response to a question from Paul Keetch MP: “What Memoranda of Understanding have been signed in relation to the use by the USA of British facilities for missile defence activities”, Mr. Hoon replied: “None”. In response to a question from Patrick Mercer MP: “To ask when he expects preparations to begin for British involvement in the US-led missile defence system”, Mr. Hoon replied:

The United Kingdom already has close access to US research and development work on missile defence, taking part in collaborative research and information exchange on ballistic missile defence technologies. UK industry is also playing an active role. UK expertise in such areas will enable us to consider and make informed assessments about technical advances in missile defence.

Unless otherwise stated, all references can be found in Hansard

on the UK Parliamentary Web site

( http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/cm/cmhansrd.htm ).