§ Sir David Priceasked the Secretary of State for Transport whether the arrangements he has made to 39W transfer the financing of the Racal-Decca chain of navigational transmitters to the general lighthouse fund include provision for reducing the cost of renting the on-ship equipment to those users whose rents currently include a charge for the use of the transmitters.
§ Mr. Michael SpicerThe arrangements that are under negotiation between the company and the General Lighthouse Authorities do not contain a specific provision of this sort. But (as envisaged when the arrangements were agreed in principle between the company and my Department) Racal-Decca is not informing its customers of the reductions in hiring charges for its Navigator receivers that will be effective from 1 January next. For example, the annual rent for the Mk 21, which is the model in widest use, will be reduced from £1,360 to £800. Moreover, models which hitherto have been available only for rent will be offered for sale at prices that compare favourably with current rental charges. Whether sold or rented, these receivers will be in free and direct competition in the United Kingdom market with other manufacturers' products.