HC Deb 24 February 1989 vol 147 cc840-1W
Mr. Andrew F. Bennett

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if his Department has made any estimates of the ionisation effects of a nuclear explosion on(a) the Backbone and (b) the Boxer microwave communication system;

(2) if (a) the Backbone and (b) the Boxer microwave communication system has been hardened against the ionisation effects of a nuclear explosion;

(3) if his Department has made any estimates of the electromagnetic pulse effect of a high-altitude nuclear explosion on the land-line elements of project UNITER;

(4) if his Department has made any estimates of the electromagnetic pulse effect of a high-altitude nuclear explosion on the defence communication network telephone circuits;

(5) if his Department has made any estimates of the electromagnetic pulse effect of a high-altitude nuclear explosion on the missile impact prediction computer system at Fylingdales BMEWS site;

(6) if his Department has made any estimates of the electromagnetic pulse effects of a high-altitude nuclear explosion on the VAX computers installed as part of the UKADGE air defence system;

(7) if the defence communication network, telephone circuits have been hardened against the electromagnetic pulse effects of a high-altitude nuclear explosion;

(8) if the VAX computers installed as part of the UKADGE air defence system are hardened against the electromagnetic pulse effects of a high-altitude nuclear explosion;

(9) if the land-line elements of project UNITER have been hardened against the electromagnetic pulse effects of a high-altitude nuclear explosion;

(10) if the missile impact prediction computer system at the Fylingdales BMEWS site is hardened against the electromagnetic pulse effects of a high-altitude nuclear explosion.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

It is not our practice to comment on operational matters of this kind.

Mr. Andrew F. Bennett

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if any studies have been carried out by his Department regarding the hardening of(a) the BBC low frequency transmitter at Droitwich, (b) the Inskip low frequency transmitter, (c) the Rugby very low frequency transmitter, (d) the Criggon very low frequency transmitter, (e) the Crimond low frequency transmitter and (f) the Anthorn very low frequency transmitter to resist the electromagnetic pulse effects of a high-altitude nuclear explosion.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

So far as the transmitters referred to in(b) to (f) are concerned, I have nothing to add to the reply that I gave the hon. Member on 10 February at columns 859–60. The transmitter at Droitwich is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Home Affairs.

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