§ Mr. Leslie Huckfieldasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when were the original contracts placed for the Linesman Mediator project; with what companies; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. David PriceI have been asked to reply.
The original contracts for Linesman were those placed in the period 1956–1959 529W under the earlier air defence project Plan Ahead, modified and supplemented as necessary when the Linesman-Mediator joint project was approved in 1962.
The main R. & D. contract on Mediator was placed in 1966, though various production contracts for other items of hardware already developed were placed at intervals from 1961 to 1966.
The companies concerned, as they existed at the time, were A.T. & E., Marconi and A.E.I.
§ Mr. Leslie Huckfieldasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what provision was made for modifications and cost escalation in the original contracts for the Linesman Mediator project.
§ Mr. David PriceI have been asked to reply.
There are a number of contracts, and pricing arrangements vary. In general, modifications and cost escalation will be paid for, except in those instances where fixed prices were arrived at on a basis which precluded additional payment for wage and material increases.