§ Mr. Ashdownasked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if the modernised phased array radar at Fylingdales will be part of the United States ballistic missile early warning system against attack on targets in north America;
(2) if the new radar at Fylingdales will give early warning against ballistic missile attack on Britain and western Europe.
§ Mr. StanleyThe modernised phased array radar at RAF Fylingdales will perform the same functions as the present system, which is to provide early warning of a strategic ballistic missile attack on either the European or North American members of NATO.
§ Mr. Ashdownasked the Secretary of State for Defence to what extent the new radar at Fylingdales will be built by (a) United States companies and (b) British companies, respectively; and if he will indicate the estimated proportion of work which will go to each category.
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§ Mr. StanleyThe modernised radar itself will be constructed by an American company. British companies will carry out all the work to be undertaken in the United Kingdom on the infrastructure for the facility, including the dismantling of the present aerial domes. This work will amount to approximately 15 per cent. of the total. However, as I said in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Scarborough (Sir M. Shaw) on 22 May at c.263–64, in addition, arrangements have been made which ensure that a range of British companies will have a significant opportunity to benefit to an extent closely equivalent to the investment undertaken by the Americans at Fylingdales.
§ Mr. Ashdownasked the Secretary of State for Defence who will be the owner of the new phased array radar installation at Fylingdales.
§ Mr. StanleyOwnership of the modernised systems will be shared between the United States and the United Kingdom in accordance with the 1960 memorandum of agreement, but the installation will remain under RAF command and control.
§ Mr. Ashdownasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish the memorandum of agreement governing the operation of the new phased array radar at Fylingdales.
§ Mr. StanleyThe memorandum of understanding covering the modernisation programme is still under discussion with the United States authorities. A decision on whether or not to publish the final version will be taken in due course.