§ Mr. Pattieasked the Secretary of State for Defence in view of the prevailing uncertainty in industry, if he will now announce a research and development contract for active radar Martel, a development contract for an anti-ship missile to NATO specifications and an extension of the AATV programme.
§ Mr. William RodgersAn extension of HSD's AATV programme has already 307W been announced and the details are now being discussed with the management. It also has been decided that HSD should act as the British systems contractor for the NATO feasibility studies on a second generation anti-ship missile which are due to start early next year. The proposals recently submitted by HSD for an active radar Martel to meet the requirement—currently the subject of feasibility studies—for an anti-ship weapon for the Maritime Harrier are still being considered.