DEFENCE ministers have again been accused of failing to answer vital questions about the closure of RAF Lyneham.

James Gray, Tory MP for North Wiltshire, said he was frustrated at spin and avoidance in official responses to inquiries he has made over the shut-down.

These latest problems in the ongoing controversy over a decision to close the base came after Mr Gray tabled some official parliamentary questions.

Mr Gray had asked the Ministry of Defence to give specific details about the decommissioning of Hercules K-Class transport aircraft operating out of the base.

He was concerned that the Ministry's timetable for closure by 2012 was unrealistic, particularly if few planes were left .

In a written answer to the question, Defence Minister Ivor Caplin said that precise details were not available and it would be impossible to say how many Hercules would be flying from the base by 2011.

Mr Caplin, with whom Mr Gray had a heated clash in a Commons debate earlier this month, said: "The station will remain a viable unit until its closure."

But Mr Gray dismissed this. He said without the precise details about decommissioning, it wasn't possible to say when this closure would happen.

"My concern is it may make sense to close the base earlier if there are only one or two planes there by 2011.

"If this is the case, we need to know so we can plan for the future."