§ 31. Mr. Brooksasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will make a statement on the Meifod radio telescope.
§ Mrs. Shirley WilliamsThe design study for a 400 ft. steerable radio telescope for Manchester University is almost complete. It will be considered in due course by the Science Research Council. The site at Meifod was chosen because it meets the requirements specified by the radio astronomers at Jodrell Bank.
§ Mr. BrooksCould we be assured that there will be no similar financial difficulty affecting the Mark V telescope as affected that at Jodrell Bank? Will my hon. Friend indicate whether the Atomic Energy Authority Engineering group has taken a decision on the question of hydrostatic bearings?
§ Mrs. WilliamsOn the second part of my hon. Friend's question, hydrostatic bearings have been borne in mind at the design stage, but I do not know the details. On the first part of the question, no decision is likely for approximately a year while the design stage is being considered in all its aspects. I cannot at the moment give my hon. Friend that assurance.