§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Minister of Technology (1) if he will give details of ways in which the dry battery-powered radar, based on the dio-ode X-band source has been made available to civil industry;
(2) if he will give details of initiatives taken by the Radar Research Establishment, Malvern, to promote civil applications for their original work in microwave-generating semi-conductors.
§ Mr. FowlerThe main aim behind developing and exploiting the small, cheap, lightweight radars has been to encourage the market for the Gunn diode solid state source developed at R.R.E. and now on sale from two British firms. The diode can be used as a local oscillator in all types of radar, and as a primary power source in short-range radars, for example for burglar alarms, for speed and distance meters, and for radars for light marine daft and vehicles.
Attention has been drawn to the work through articles in the technical and national Press, and in the Ministry of Technology's information bulletin "New Technology". Equipment has been demonstrated at various exhibitions both in the United Kingdom and in Europe. Any United Kingdom firms who wish to learn about the work are welcome to visit R.R.E., and many have done so, including all the major marine radar firms, many smaller electronic firms, and a wide variety of firms in other industries who might be helped by the equipment.