§ 55. Mr. Goodhewasked the Secretary of State for Defence whether the proposed new radar installation at Orfordness will be manned by British or American personnel.
§ Mr. Merlyn Rees:The new radio research station will be manned by both British and American personnel.
§ 56. Mr. Goodhewasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give the dates on which tenders were invited for the construction of the new radar installation at Orfordness and the date on which it is planned that the installation should become operational.
§ Mr. Merlyn Rees:Tenders for the constructional work were invited on 19th January, 1968. The station should be ready for practical research within two or three years.
§ Mr. Goodhewasked the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he has taken to ensure that British manufacturers have 409W the opportunity to tender for electronic equipment for the new radar installation to be constructed at Orfordness.
§ Mr. Merlyn Rees:Although British firms have been invited to tender for construction work, the radio equipment for this research station is being provided and paid for by the United States Government, who have, I understand, placed a contract with American industry.
§ Mr. Goodhewasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give the estimated total cost of the new radar station which it is proposed to build at Orfordness on the Suffolk coast, showing the proportions of cost which will be paid for by Great Britain and the United States of America, respectively.
§ Mr. Merlyn Rees:I am unable at present to give an estimate of the total cost of the radio research station. The greater part of the cost will be for radio equipment, which is to be provided and paid for by the United States Government. The United Kingdom will contribute a proportion of the cost of the construction work; this will be less than a quarter, but the exact proportion cannot be determined at this stage.