§ LORD ORR-EWINGMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to buy man-pack radar from overseas for defence purposes; and if so, what would be the overall cost to our balance of payments.]
§ THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDERSECRETARY OF STATE, FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (THE MARQUESS OF LOTHIAN)My Lords, the future provision of a man-pack radar for use by the Army is under consideration. Several possibilities are being examined, but no decision has yet been taken.
§ LORD ORR-EWINGMy Lords, is the noble Marquess aware that the British electronics industry, which is the foremost in Europe, will be undermined and destroyed if the basis on which Exorcet was purchased is extended to man-pack and other projects? Is this not a result of the Services failing to state their operational requirements with the maximum of clarity and the minimum of delay? If we are to spend another £50 million, as has been spent in foreign exchange on Exorcet, should not the industry on this occasion have firm orders as an offset? Is the noble Marquess aware that local United Kingdom manufacture is a poor substitute for home-based research and development and manufacture, which not only produces the goods for our Services but leads to very healthy exports?
§ THE MARQUESS OF LOTHIANMy Lords, I would agree with the last part of my noble friend's Question. As to the first part, I should prefer to leave the comments on the Services to my noble friend the Minister of Defence who, unfortunately, is not here to-day. The Government are well aware of the needs of British industry in this respect and it is one of the considerations which is being borne in mind at the moment regarding these proposals.
§ LORD WYNNE-JONESMy Lords, could the noble Marquess tell us whether, in the use and development of such 658 equipment the zinc-air battery developed in this country will be given high priority? This is something of very great importance and is the best lightweight battery that there is. I am not "plugging" it for personal reasons.
§ THE MARQUESS OF LOTHIANMy Lords, I am afraid that I should require notice of that question. I entirely accept that the noble Lord is not"plugging"it.
§ LORD HOYMy Lords, would the noble Marquess confirm or deny the assertion by the noble Lord, Lord Orr-Ewing, that this project is going to cost £50 million?
§ TIIE MARQUESS OF LOTHIANNo, my Lords, I cannot comment on what this project is going to cost.
§ LORD ORR-EWINGMy Lords, would the noble Marquess, when studying my remarks in Hansard, observe that I was not suggesting that the man-pack radar might cost £50 million, but that the Exorcet cost more than that and we did not want to repeat that mistake.
VISCOUNT STONEHAVENMy Lords, could the noble Marquess tell us the difference between"overall cost"and"cost "?