The base is on Crown land and that means planning permission does not have to follow the normal procedure for any development on the site.

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This procedure will take some time but could have a crucial impact on the future development of freedom of information in the UK. It seems to have left some FOI campaigners worried about how the Act might be scaled back and some public bodies and private companies worried about how it may be further extended.

BBC: Information law scrutiny means worries on both sides

Although FGM, or taking someone abroad for the procedure, is illegal in the UK, research by Forward (Foundation for Women's Health Research and Development) found more than 20, 000 girls in England and Wales were at risk.

BBC: Tackling female genital mutilation 'taboo' in Birmingham