§ 20. Mr. Frank Allaunasked the Minister of Defence his estimates of the approximate extent of Britain's financial participation in the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation's radar screen now under construction, the total cost of the screen, and its completion date.
§ 22. Mr. Swinglerasked the Minister of Defence the cost of Britain's contribution to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation's radar screen; and to what extent this screen is estimated to be effective in giving warning of ballistic missiles.
§ 27 and 28. Mr. Woofasked the Minister of Defence (1) what the British contribution is to date to the cost of building the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation's radar screen; what the total British contribution is expected to be; and when the radar screen will be completed;
(2) to what extent the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation's radar screen is designed to give warning against aeroplanes only, or has a function to perform in relation to attacks by ballistic missiles.
§ Mr. SandysThe N.A.T.O. radar chain in Europe is designed to give early warning of attack by aircraft only. It would not be proper for me to give information about cost or date of completion.
§ Mr. Frank AllaunBut since the screen is useless against the missiles which Russia already possesses, is it not out of date even before it is built? Will the Minister consider stopping this colossal waste of money and manpower?
§ Mr. SandysBomber aircraft will constitute a very important threat for a long time to come.
§ Mr. SwinglerWhy should the figure of our financial contribution towards this radar screen be concealed? Is not the Minister aware that some very large figures have been quoted in the American Press and other places, and will not he give the figure, especially as a very large number of people feel that this project is obsolescent in the light of the statements made by the leader of N.A.T.O. itself about the nature of the attack to be considered?
§ Mr. SandysWhy it is improper is that it is not right for each member of an alliance of fifteen nations to hand out information about costs and, above all, about the dates of completion of operational equipment. What I can say is that, of the cost, Britain's share will be about 10 per cent.