Prime Minister Tony Blair has refused to divulge the assaurances he has given Bill Clinton over allowing the US to use RAF Fylingdales for the American's National Missile Defence (NMD) system.

The Evening Press quissed the Prime Minister on his discussions with the US President about the star-wars-style military project.

But Mr Blair, in an interview at Downing Street, side-stepped the question, stressing the issue was a matter of national security. He added that the debate in American baout proceeding with the NMD system was on-going so the British Government was not at the stage of making a formal decision on Fylingdales.

The United States wants to use the Norht Yorkshire military base as an early warning station for the NMD project, but it would nto protect the UK. Scarborough and Whitby Labour MP Lawrie Quinn fears that the North York Moors could become a military target if George W Bush becomes President. Republican Mr Bush is firmer believer in the project than his Democratic rival Al Gore.