§ 7. Mr. H. Clarkasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what agreement he has reached with the Government of the United States of America for the establishment of a satellite tracking station on the Seychelles.
§ Mr. FisherI would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Chigwell (Mr. Biggs-Davison) on 26th April.
§ Mr. ClarkWhile we are all delighted to hear that a tracking station is to be established on the Seychelles, what effect is this station likely to have on the general economy of the Seychelles? Will it, as well as improving the communications between the Seychelles and the moon, improve the communications between the Seychelles and the rest of the world?
§ Mr. FisherI think that the Colony will benefit economically from the extensive employment. A considerable amount of local labour will be employed in constructing the station. Thereafter, there will be expenditure by the personnel of the station and also the employment of local labour by the station. So there will be a certain amount of economic benefit. With regard to communications—and I think that my hon. Friend was referring to the airfield—I am not aware of any such proposals at the moment, but this would be a matter for the United States Government.