The base is the largest electronic monitoring station in the world

Britain has agreed to a US request for the RAF Menwith Hill monitoring station in North Yorkshire to be used as part of its missile defence system.

Defence Secretary Des Browne said the system was "a building block to enhance our national and collective security".

CND said it was "outraged" by the move which it said had been done without consulting MPs or the public.

Mr Browne also said a radar upgrade at RAF Fylingdales near Whitby, started in 2003 by the US, was complete.

The Fylingdales radar is expected to switch operations to the new equipment next month.

"There is no change to the existing UK-US mission for the radar and the station remains under full UK command," added Mr Browne.

"The UK will have full insight into the operation of the US missile defence system when missile engagements take place that are wholly or partly influenced by data from the radar at RAF Fylingdales."

Warning data

Mr Browne said the work at RAF Menwith Hill would support the existing UK-US missile warning mission and enable satellite data to be passed into the new US missile defence system.

"Equipment will be installed and operated by the US government to allow receipt of satellite warnings of potentially hostile missile launches, and will pass this warning data both to UK and US authorities.

"The data will also be fed into the US ballistic missile defence system for use in their response to any missile attack on the US," Mr Browne said.

"This will guarantee the UK's continued access to essential missile attack warning data, as well as enhancing the US's ability to deal with any attack aimed at their country."

'Outrageous'

The receiving antenna equipment already exists at RAF Menwith Hill and installing communications hardware is the only extra work required.

But anti-nuclear campaigners CND accused the government of "whipping up tensions in Europe in order supposedly to fight a threat that does not exist".

CND chairwoman Kate Hudson said: "This is an outrageous announcement made with total contempt for democracy and consultation.

"Where was the chance for MPs, let alone the public to discuss tying in Menwith Hill to the so-called missile defence system?"

"It looks like the MoD and the US have deceived Parliament and deceived the British people when previously the minister dismissed suggestions that developments at Menwith Hill would form part of NMD."

She said Mr Browne was "disingenuous" to suggest missile defence systems were not for offensive use.

"This totally unnecessary system will protect no-one, but threaten all - by giving the US the ability to strike with impunity without any fear of retaliation," she added.

CND also disputed the government's claim that Menwith Hill would remain under UK command, saying many of the personnel based there were from America.

Defence Secretary Des Browne announced today that alongside the previously agreed use of the Fylingdales radar, the US spy base at Menwith Hill, near Harrogate, will receive satellite data on potential missile launches and feed this into the US Missile Defence system. The necessary antenna has already been installed in what the then Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon described as being a development “dealt with entirely separately from missile defence” when the matter was raised by the Defence Select Committee in 2002 [see note 2]. When questioned by David Crausby MP on this matter, Geoff Hoon passed off Mr Crausby's concerns as “an interesting approach to try and tie in two discrete issues”. It is now clear that these were not separate issues.

Kate Hudson, Chair of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, said, “This is an outrageous announcement made with total contempt for democracy and consultation. Where was the chance for MPs, let alone the public to discuss tying in Menwith Hill to the so-called Missile Defence system. It looks like the MoD and the US have deceived Parliament and deceived the British people when previously the Minister dismissed suggestions that developments at Menwith Hill would form part of NMD”.

She continued, “Des Browne is clearly disingenuous when he claims Missile Defence systems ‘are not for offensive use’ [see note 3] - this totally unnecessary system will protect no-one, but threaten all – by giving the US the ability to strike with impunity without any fear of retaliation. Having yet another Missile Defence base in Britain confirms our place on the front line. Were anyone to wish to attack the US, the top priority would be to destroy these defences, sited only a few miles from British towns and cities.”

“Missile Defence is already whipping up tensions in Europe in order supposedly to fight a threat that does not exist – rogue states with intercontinental ballistic missiles. The British Government seems to be fully signed up to this project which is leading to a rise in global tensions and provoking a new arms race. This is exactly why these systems were banned for 30 years until the US unilaterally withdrew from the ABM Treaty (Anti-Balistic Missile Treaty of 1972). This is a provocative step - dangerous both for Britain and the world. ”

The Defence Secretary, Des Browne, announced in a written statement to the Commons that he had accepted an American request to use RAF Menwith Hill, near Harrogate, as part of the system. He said it would help to "build future protection for our citizens."

The highly guarded base is the scene of an annual peace demonstration, which can be expected to get bigger as a result of yesterday's announcement, which provoked a furious reaction.

Kate Hudson, Chair of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, said, "This is an outrageous announcement made with total contempt for democracy and consultation. Where was the chance for MPs, let alone the public, to discuss tying in Menwith Hill to the so-called Missile Defence system?

"This totally unnecessary system will protect no-one, but threaten all... another Missile Defence base in Britain confirms our place on the front line. Were anyone to wish to attack the US, the top priority would be to destroy these defences, sited only a few miles from British towns and cities."