§ Mr. Frank Allaunasked the Secretary of State for Defence how much he estimates it will cost to build the 12-acre underground structure in the Chilterns; how much of it will be borne by the British Government and how much by the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation; how long it will take to build; whether the structure will provide protection against radiation after those for whom it is designed leave it; and whether he will now consider cancelling its construction.
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§ Mr. WigginIt is estimated that the total cost of the new underground operations and communications centre at High Wycombe will be about £40 million, of which NATO has agreed to contribute about half from infrastructure funds. On present plans, construction will be completed in about four years. The operations centre will be manned permanently thereafter by the staff of RAF Strike Command and the NATO Commander United Kingdom Air Forces who will exercise control of all their forces from there. The new centre will be a vital element in the air defence of the United Kingdom and there is no intention of cancelling it.