§ Mrs. Ewingasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the total sum spent on the Blue Flash project to the latest convenient date; and what is his estimate of the cost to public funds of claims for compensation and other liabilities still to be satisfied.
§ Mr. J. P. W. MallalieuI understand that the hon. Lady's Question refers to Blue Streak and I have, therefore, been asked to reply.
A sum of £89 million was spent on Blue Streak up to 1st November, 1961, from which date costs have been borne by E.L.D.O. to which Organisation the United Kingdom currently contributes. The amount paid by that Organisation to 31st December, 1968, for work on Blue Streak, was £47 million. The amount of further expenditure by E.L.D.O. on Blue Streak depends in part on the future programme of the Organisation, and is at present estimated at about £15 million.