§ Mr. McNamaraasked the Secretary of State for Defence why the firm CAP Scientific was engaged by his Department to do an independent assessment of the airborne early warning requirement for the Royal Air Force; and why it was dismissed after two days by his Department.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonBecause we were concerned that the vital question of the risk associated with the further development necessary in either of the two AEW systems in contention in the final stages of the competition—Nimrod and E-3A — should be assessed as fairly as possible, CAP Scientific was approached to provide assistance. We quickly realised, and the firm acknowledged, that the assistance we required could not be made available in the time scale to which we were working.
§ Mr. Ashdownasked the Secretary of State for Defence if any of the advance warning and control system offset work being offered by the Boeing company will be carried out under the terms of the Export Administration Act 1985 of the United States of America; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonWe will answer shortly.