US President George W Bush may not want to use RAF Fylingdales radar base for the controversial "Son of Star Wars" project after all, it has emerged.

In a House of Lords debate, junior defence minister Lord Bach said the U.S. had indicated it was looking at alternatives to a ground-based National Missile defence shield.

He added that President Bush was in "no hurry" to involve Fylingdales or Menwith Hill in its plans.

Lord Bach said: "It appears the United States may not be envisaging the use of United Kingdom facilities in its thinking on a range of short-term issues.

"It is our understanding that the U.S. thinking includes examining options for

the early deployment of airborne and sea-based systems. However, other options are being considered, and the U.S administration has made no firm decisions as yet."

Ministers have been under pressure to try and persuade George W Bush to abandon his proposals for the project altogether.

More than 175 Labour and Liberal Democrat MPs - including Scarborough and Whitby member Lawrie Quinn and Harrogate's Phil Willis - have tabled a

Parliamentary early day motion which expresses "grave doubts" about the

project. They fear it could spark a new nuclear arms race.

Updated: 10:45 Friday, June 29, 2001