§ Mr. Strangasked the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the technology demonstrator programme.
§ Mr. ButlerTechnology demonstrator programmes bridge the gap between basic research and project development to meet approved operational requirements. Their purpose is to determine whether new technological concepts can be developed into operationally effective hardware. Where this is successful, it reduces the technical, time-scale and cost risks of future project development programmes, and achieves better value for money.