§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a further statement on the role and function of the trial radar station near Bradwell-on-Sea, Essex; which unit or agency is responsible for operating this installation and its experiments; what is the estimated cost of the activities at this location; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. SainsburyAs I have already explained in my reply to the hon. Member for Cunninghame, North (Mr. Wilson) on 29 April, the facility is used for high-frequency 323W surface wave radar technology studies. The site is managed by Marconi Radar Systems Ltd. and has been sub-let to the Royal Signals Research Establishment (amongst other users) to undertake research work. They are paying a proportional element of the total maintenance costs of the site currently estimated to be about £70,000 a year, together with costs of dedicated Marconi personnel incurred in supporting these studies.