UK Defence Forum

The company, part of Lagan Construction Group, will carry out work in Gibraltar and Cyprus for Defence Infrastructure Organisation - with the work valued at a combined £31m.

In Cyprus, Lagan Construction International will work in a joint venture with Iacovou Brothers on RAF Akrotiri base in Cyprus, with work to be finished by January 2017.

It completed an earlier airport project at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus in 1998.

A number of boats carrying dozens of migrants, including children, have landed at the RAF base at Akrotiri in Cyprus, the Ministry of Defence says.

It is thought there were about 140 people on board, but their country of origin has not yet been established.

It is believed to be the first time during the current Mediterranean migrant crisis that people have arrived on UK sovereign territory.

The MoD said responsibility for them rested with the Cypriot authorities.

David Cameron has offered François Hollande the use of Britain’s RAF airbase on Cyprus from which to launch airstrikes against Islamic State militants in Syria in the wake of the attacks on Paris.

Speaking alongside the French president at the Élysée Palace, Cameron said: “The United Kingdom will do all in its our power to support our friend and ally France to defeat this evil death cult.”

Asked by Lord Kilclooney
Asked on: 21 January 2016
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what consideration they have given to releasing parts of one or both of the Sovereign Base Areas in Cyprus to facilitate a political settlement on the island.

Answered by: Earl Howe
Answered on: 29 January 2016

The UK will continue to support the efforts of President Anastasiades and Mr Akinci to reunite Cyprus through a just and lasting settlement. The UK has made a generous offer that, as part of a comprehensive settlement, we will cede a significant proportion of the land mass of the Sovereign Base Areas. However, the Sovereign Base Areas continue to have a significant operational value for defence that is expected to endure for the long term.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his long-term plans are for the operation and use of RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus.

RAF Akrotiri has performed a vital strategic function in support of operations over many years and continues to fulfil that function today including in support of operations in Iraq and Syria. We expect RAF Akrotiri to remain an essential element of the UK's overseas presence for years to come.

Dahedd wrote:Why do we use Griffons in Cyprus. Is not a type we use anywhere else & seems a tad wasteful.