THE EARL OF MANSFIELDasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will state how much it would cost to provide radar at Turnhouse Aerodrome and how long the installation of such equipment would take and whether they will consider providing this equipment in time for the Commonwealth Games to be held in Edinburgh in 1970, particularly in view of their refusal to construct a second runway at Turnhouse before that time.
§ LORD BESWICKThe initial capital cost of equipping Edinburgh (Turnhouse) airport with surveillance radar is estimated to be £150,000. Operating costs on the basis of the trading accounts for air navigation services are (i.e., including depreciation and overheads) estimated at £30,000 a year. The project would take about two years to complete. There is certainly a case for the provision of this radar by 1970 (for the expeditious handling of traffic using Turnhouse), but this must clearly be considered in the light of current economic circumstances.
House adjourned at nine minutes before nine o'clock.