§ 35. Mr. Masonasked the Secretary of State for Air how many radiation detection posts have now been built; whether the programme is now complete; to what extent they are manned; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. H. Fraser1,250 of these underground posts have been built and 150 are under construction. Contracts for the final 100 posts will be let shortly. The posts would be manned by the Royal Observer Corps in an emergency.
§ Mr. SpeakerMr. Mason.
§ Mr. RankinOn a point of order, Mr. Speaker. Would it not be possible to lengthen the third back bench opposite in order to accommodate displaced Ministers?
§ Mr. SpeakerNot in the middle of Question Time.
§ Mr. MasonCan the Secretary of State for Air inform the House what will be the eventual total cost of this programme and whether we are using the radiation network at the moment for assessing fallout from American and Russian tests?
§ Mr. FraserThe total cost will be about £2¼ million, but, as the hon. Gentleman knows, these stations would only assess the high degree of fall-out which would result from atomic attack. The present fall-out from various weapon tests throughout the world can be read only by far finer instruments. If the hon. Gentleman has a question on that aspect, I would ask him to address it to the United Nations or to the Minister for Science here.