§ Mr. Pattieasked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he is satisfied, on financial grounds, that the proposed purchase by the Government of the American Airborne Early Warning and Control System (AWACS) is cheaper than any known alternative system taking into account foreign exchange costs, job opportunities and operating costs.
§ Mr. MulleySince cost sharing and other aspects of the proposed NATO Airborne Early Warning system continue to be examined within NATO, I cannot give the comparisons asked.