`sightseeing' tour of the former US Naval Base -- `refreshing' themselves on what is happening on the land.

But yesterday, Sir John and the Hon. Maxwell Burgess both declined to state the reasons for their visit apart from saying they were "just looking around''.

Sir John, Mr. Burgess and, it is understood, four other MPs, took a tour of the Base on Tuesday. Government has recently announced redevelopment plans for the hundreds of acres left empty by the US authorities.

"I was there for a casual tour,'' said Mr. Burgess. "I went down by myself in my car. I was looking at the lovely views of the water.'' Yesterday, Sir John said: "We were just taking a look around, trying to refresh ourselves with what is happening.'' Sir John is helping to advise a group discussing the possibility of keeping fast food giants, McDonald's on the Island. The only outlet closed when the Naval Air Base shut down at the beginning of September.

Both denied they were looking at the McDonald's area.