THE Government has moved to quash claims that America may be allowed to site interceptor missiles at RAF Fylingdales.

Armed Forces Minister Adam Ingram has written to North Yorkshire County Council leader John Weighell, following a plea from Coun Weighell for an unequivocal statement about the possible development of existing facilities at the base, or changes to them.

Mr Ingram says: "There has been no US request to base missiles - known as interceptors - on UK soil, and therefore no deal, secret or otherwise. We continue to have discussions with the US on a wide range of ballistic missile defence issues, including ballistic missile defence for Europe. However, these do not involve specific architectures or basing assumptions.

"We have also emphasised to the National Park authority and others that there are no current plans for major developments at the RAF Fylingdales site."

Updated: 10:13 Friday, November 12, 2004