§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the cost of the new computer system at the recently opened United Kingdom air defence ground defence environment command and control system, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire; why this computer system was originally specified to use four different programming languages; why it is being converted to a single language; what is the cost of this change; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. SainsburyOnly part of the improved United Kingdom air defence ground environment (IUKADGE) command and control system (ICCS) will be at High Wycombe. Equipment and software costs of the entire system, of which NATO is paying over 80 per cent. will amount to some £225 million at September 1988 prices. It would not be meaningful, however, to identify the cost of part of the system in isolation.
The ICCS is being developed and installed by UKSL Ltd. under a fixed-price contract. The number of programming languages was not specified by the MOD and is the responsibility of the contractor.