§ 34. Mr. Geoffrey Lloydasked the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration he is giving to the need for a communications satellite for defence purposes.
§ Mr. HealeyAs the Prime Minister informed the House in February no long-term policy has yet been formulated in respect of communications satellites for defence purposes though studies are being carried out. Negotiations are in progress at the invitation of the United States Secretary of Defence, and have reached an advanced stage for participation by214W United Kingdom ground terminals in trials of an experimental satellite system for defence communications which the Americans intend to establish early next year.