§ 9. Mr. Dalyellasked the Minister of Technology what research his Department is doing into improving rock quarrying equipment of the type needed for massive construction projects on atolls, where the maximum height is 20 ft. above sea-level, such as Aldabra.
§ Mr. FowlerNone, Sir. My right hon. Friend is satisfied that suitable equipment is already available should a decision be taken which would require its use in Aldabra.
§ Mr. DalyellDoes anybody in the Government machine have any clear idea of the difficulty and expense of mining 94 million cu. ft. of honeycombed coral rock in an obscure Indian island outpost?
§ Mr. FowlerWe are satisfied that the conditions at Aldabra and, above all, the 20 ft. altitude above the sea mentioned in my hon. Friend's Question do not pose any special problems. I should, however, emphasise that no decision has yet been made whether to use the island of Aldabra for defence purposes.