Over-the-horizon Radar (Hansard, 23 April 1990)

§ Mr. Cohen
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) from which subheads of which votes the United Kingdom's financial contribution to the cost of construction in support of the proposed relocatable over-the-horizon radar to be built at RAF Brawdy and associated sites will be taken;
(2) from which subheads of which votes the United Kingdom financial contribution to the cost of design work for the construction in support of the proposed relocatable over-the-horizon radar to be built at RAF Brawdy and associated sites will be taken.

§ Mr. Alan Clark
The United Kingdom's financial contribution to construction, including design work, in support of a two-year trial of a United States over-the-horizon radar in the United Kingdom will be taken from the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force subheads of defence vote 2.

§ Mr. Cohen
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence from which subheads of which votes the United Kingdom's financial contribution to the cost of the proposed relocatable over-the-horizon radar equipment to be installed at RAF Brawdy and associated sites will be taken.

§ Mr. Alan Clark
The United Kingdom Government will be making no financial contribution to the costs of the United States over-the-horizon radar equipment to be located for a two-year trial in the United Kingdom.

§ Mr. Cohen
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence from which subheads of which votes the United Kingdom's financial contribution to the annual operating costs of the proposed relocatable over-the-horizon radar will be taken.

§ Mr. Alan Clark
The United Kingdom's financial contribution to the running costs of the two-year trial of an over-the-horizon radar will be taken from the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force subheads of defence votes 1 and 2.
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§ Mr. Cohen
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will list each of the joint United Kingdom-United States over-the-horizon research, development, testing and evaluation experiments in which his Department has participated or contributed funds;
(2) if he will make a statement on the over-the-horizon radar experiment known as "Cobra Mist";
(3) what is the bearing by true north of the centreline of the sector that will be covered by the proposed relocatable over-the-horizon radar;
(4) what were the dates of(a) commencement and (b) cessation of the over-the-horizon experiment known as "Cold Witness";
(5) what were the dates of (a) commencement and (b) cessation of the over-the-horizon experiment known as "Cobra Mist";
(6) where was the site of the experimental radar system that was used during the over-the-horizon experiment known as "Cold Witness";
(7) where was the site of the experimental radar system that was used during the over-the-horizon experiment known as "Cobra Mist";
(8) whether the radar used during the over-the-horizon experiment known as "Cold Witness" had its receiver and transmitter antenna at the same location;
(9) whether the radar used during the over-the-horizon experiment known as "Cobra Mist" had its receiver and transmitter antenna at the same location.

§ Mr. Alan Clark
This information is classified.

§ Mr. Cohen
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will make a statement on the over-the-horizon radar experiment known as "Cold Witness";
(2) what is the connection between the over-the-horizon radar experiments "Cobra Mist" and "Cold Witness" and the proposed relocatable over-the-horizon radar to be built at RAF Brawdy and associated sites.

§ Mr. Alan Clark
"Cold Witness" was at one time the name given to a joint United Kingdom-United States programme of studies aimed at testing the feasibility of siting an over-the-horizon radar in the United Kingdom. I refer the hon. Member to the written answer given to the former right hon. Member for Western Isles on 21 December 1984 at column378.
The results of the joint programme of studies have now been fully considered, and a decision has been taken in principle to undertake a joint two-year trial of an over-the-horizon radar in the United Kingdom.

§ Mr. Cohen
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the dimensions of the receiving antenna for the proposed relocatable over-the-horizon radar to be installed at Blakehill in terms of(a) longest length and (b) area covered.

§ Mr. Alan Clark
The length of the receiving antenna of the proposed over-the-horizon radar, to be sited at Blakehill radio station, Wiltshire, is 8,500 ft. The total area required for the installation is 145 acres.

§ Mr. Cohen
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the dimensions of the transmitting antenna for the proposed relocatable over-the-horizon radar to be installed at RAF Brawdy in terms of(a) longest length and (b) area covered.
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§ Mr. Alan Clark
The length of the transmitting antenna of the proposed over-the-horizon radar, to be sited at St. David's airfield, Pembrokeshire, is 2,480 ft. The total area required for the installation is 85 acres.

§ Mr. Cohen
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what exclusion zones are planned round the transmitting antenna of the proposed relocatable over-the-horizon radar to be built at RAF Brawdy for people at ground level.

§ Mr. Alan Clark
The transmitter site for the two-year trial of an over-the-horizon radar in the United Kingdom will be at the MOD-owned St. David's airfield, Pembrokeshire. A safety exclusion zone, within which a radio-frequency hazard could exist, will be established around the transmitter. This safety exclusion zone will be well within the boundary of the site.

§ Mr. Cohen
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what exclusion zones are planned round the transmitting antenna of the proposed relocatable over-the-horizon radar to be built at RAF Brawdy for aircraft.

§ Mr. Alan Clark
Notification of a high intensity radio transmission area (HIRTA) will be made as part of the process of application for military clearance to use the site. Details will be made available to the national air traffic services and the civil aviation community.

§ Mr. Cohen
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is(a) the maximum range and (b) the minimum range of the proposed relocatable over-the-horizon radar.

§ Mr. Alan Clark
The theoretical maximum and minimum ranges of an over-the-horizon radar are 1,600 nautical miles and 500 nautical miles respectively.

§ Mr. Cohen
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the United Kingdom financial contribution to the cost of the proposed relocatable over-the-horizon radar equipment.

§ Mr. Alan Clark
None. The equipment for the trial of an over-the-horizon radar in the United Kingdom will be provided by the United States Government.

§ Mr. Cohen
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the number of(a) United Kingdom military personnel, (b) United Kingdom civilian personnel, (c) United States military personnel and (d) United States civilian personnel who will be based at the transmitter site of the proposed relocatable over-the-horizon radar.

§ Mr. Alan Clark
No United Kingdom or United States military personnel will be based at the transmitter site of the proposed over-the-horizon radar. Up to 19 civilian maintenance and support staff will be based there; the proportion that will be United Kingdom personnel has yet to be determined.

§ Mr. Cohen
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what is the number of(a) United Kingdom personnel, (b) United Kingdom civilian personnel, (c) United States military personnel and (d) United States civilian personnel who will be based at the receiver site of the proposed relocatable over-the-horizon radar;
(2) what is the number of (a) United Kingdom personnel, (b) United Kingdom civilian personnel, (c) 66W United States military personnel and (d) United States civilian personnel who will be based at the operations control centre of the proposed relocatable over-the-horizon radar.

§ Mr. Alan Clark
Sixty United Kingdom military personnel will be based at the receiver site of the proposed over-the-horizon radar, including the control centre. A small number of United States military personnel, and a number of civilian staff of both nationalities, will also be stationed at Blakehill. Precise numbers have yet to be determined.

§ Mr. Cohen
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the proposed location for the operations control centre for the relocatable over-the-horizon radar.

§ Mr. Alan Clark
The control centre for the two-year trial of an over-the-horizon radar in the United Kingdom will be collocated with the receiver at the Blakehill radio station, Wiltshire.

§ Mr. Cohen
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the total acreage of land to be used by the proposed relocatable over-the-horizon radar station at RAF Brawdy and associated sites.

§ Mr. Alan Clark
The total area required at St. David's airfield, Dyfed, the site of the transmitter for a two-year trial of an over-the-horizon radar in the United Kingdom is 85 acres, including buildings and a safety exclusion zone around the installation. The total area required at Blakehill radio station, Wiltshire, the site of the receiver, is 145 acres, including buildings.

§ Mr. Cohen
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what is the United Kingdom's financial contribution to the cost of construction in support of the proposed relocatable over-the-horizon radar;
(2) what is the United Kingdom's financial contribution to the cost of design work for the construction in support of the proposed relocatable over-the-horizon radar.

§ Mr. Alan Clark
The United Kingdom Government will bear the full cost of preparing the sites, including all design and construction work, for the two-year trial of an over-the-horizon radar. The maximum cost of this work is expected to be £11.3 million. It is not practicable to separate the cost of design work from that of the construction itself.

§ Mr. Cohen
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what studies his Department has carried out into the potential problems of interference with the signal returns to a relocatable over-the-horizon radar caused by aircraft flying through the radar beams close to the transmitter site.

§ Mr. Alan Clark
The characteristics of the over-the-horizon radar, and the way in which it is to be operated during its two-year trial, lead us to conclude that there will be no such problems.

§ Mr. Cohen
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what will be the United Kingdom's financial contribution to the annual operating costs of the proposed relocatable over-the-horizon radar.

§ Mr. Alan Clark
The cost of the United Kingdom's contribution, including manpower, to the operating costs of the proposed two-year trial of an over-the-horizon radar will be about £3 million in each year.
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§ Mr. Cohen
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he was first made aware of United States proposals to instal a relocatable over-the-horizon radar at RAF Brawdy and associated sites.

§ Mr. Alan Clark
Defence Ministers have been aware for a number of years of the joint UK-US programme of studies aimed at testing the feasibility of siting an over-the-horizon radar system in the United Kingdom. I refer the hon. Member to the written answers given by my predecessor, my right hon. Friend the then Member for Bosworth, to the hon. Member for Houghton and Washington (Mr. Boyes) and the then right hon. Member for Western Isles on 21 December 1984 at column378.

§ Mr. Cohen
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether any formal agreement has been signed between Her Majesty's Government and the United States Government, or any armed service or agency under the control of the United States Government, regarding use of the proposed relocatable over-the-horizon radar.

§ Mr. Alan Clark
A memorandum of understanding between the United Kingdom and United States Governments was signed on 20 April 1990 covering the planned two-year trial of a United States navy over-the-horizon radar in the United Kingdom.

§ Mr. Cohen
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if the proposed relocatable over-the-horizon radar to be built at RAF Brawdy and associated sites will be linked to the joint ocean surveillance information centre;
(2) whether information gathered from the proposed relocatable over-the-horizon radar to be built at RAF Brawdy and associated sites would be used as a real-time data input into (a) UKADGE or (b) NADGE.

§ Mr. Alan Clark
It would be premature to consider the possible operational assignment of an over-the-horizon radar in the United Kingdom before the results of its planned two-year trial have been fully assessed.

§ Mr. Nicholas Bennett
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the necessity for the proposed over-the-horizon radar installation on the site of the former St. David's airfield, Pembrokeshire.

§ Mr. Alan Clark
Studies have indicated that an over-the-horizon radar (OTHR) situated in the United Kingdom could substantially enhance our air defence and early warning capabilities. No firm decision has been taken to put such a radar into operational service. We have, however, decided in principle to embark on a two-year joint trial, with the United States Government, of a United States navy OTHR to demonstrate whether the possible advantages of this radar can be achieved in practice.

§ Mr. Nicholas Bennett
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimates he has as to the annual running costs of the proposed over-the-horizon radar installation on the site of the former St. David's airfield, Pembrokeshire.

§ Mr. Alan Clark
Once the proposed over-the-horizon radar transmitter is installed, the running costs of its two-year trial are expected to be limited to those of manpower, maintenance and the consumption of utilities and spares. It is not possible to be more precise at this stage.
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§ Mr. Nicholas Bennett
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence why the hon. Member for Pembroke was not given prior warning of the proposal to construct an over-the-horizon radar installation on the site of the former St. David's airfield in his constituency.

§ Mr. Alan Clark
I wrote to my hon. Friend on 29 March 1990, as soon as possible after a formal decision had been taken in principle to undertake a two-year trial of an over-the-horizon radar in the United Kingdom.
I greatly regret that, in error, my hon. Friend was not informed in November 1988 that consideration was being given to undertaking the trial.

§ Mr. Nicholas Bennett
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when Preseli-Pembrokeshire district council was first informed of the proposed over-the-horizon radar installation at the former St. David's airfield, Pembrokeshire.

§ Mr. Alan Clark
There is no formal requirement for the Ministry of Defence to inform the Preseli-Pembrokeshire district council of the proposed installation of an over-the-horizon radar at St. David's airfield. I understand, however, that the Pembrokeshire national park authorities plan fully to consult local communities and all other interested parties once the formal notice of proposed development has been submitted.

§ Mr. Nicholas Bennett
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what impact the installation of the proposed over-the-horizon radar at St. David's airfield, Pembrokeshire, would have on the local tourist industry;
(2) what measures are proposed to protect the environment of the Pembrokeshire national park in the event of the construction of the proposed over-the-horizon radar installation taking place on the site of the former St. David's airfield, Pembrokeshire;
(3) what impact the proposed over-the-horizon radar installation at the former St. David's airfield, Pembrokeshire, would have on the local farming community;
(4) what impact the proposed over-the-horizon radar installation on the site of the former St. David's airfield, Pembrokeshire, would have on the local economy of the area.

§ Mr. Alan Clark
This will be one of the aspects to be fully considered by the independent environmental impact assessment of the proposed installation, which will be undertaken shortly.

§ Mr. Nicholas Bennett
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what financial contribution is to be made by the United States Government towards the construction of the proposed over-the-horizon radar installation on the site of the former St. David's airfield, Pembrokeshire.

§ Mr. Alan Clark
The United States Government will be responsible for providing, installing and preparing for operation the over-the-horizon radar planned to be situated in the United Kingdom for a two-year trial.

§ Mr. Nicholas Bennett
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether, if approved for construction, the proposed over-the-horizon radar installation on the site of the former St. David's airfield, Pembrokeshire, will be built by private enterprise companies after tender.

§ Mr. Alan Clark
Yes.
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§ Mr. Nicholas Bennett
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give the exact Ordnance Survey grid reference for the proposed over-the-horizon radar installation at the former St. David's airfield, Pembrokeshire.

§ Mr. Alan Clark
The proposed over-the-horizon radar transmitter to be installed at St. David's airfield, Dyfed, will be situated in the area around grid reference SM 7907 east/2551 north. The exact location will depend on the outcome of the planned environmental impact assessment.

§ Mr. Nicholas Bennett
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether any interference would be caused to radio, television or other telecommunications equipment by the operation of the proposed over-the-horizon radar installation on the site of the former St. David's airfield, Pembrokeshire; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Alan Clark
The design of the planned over-the-horizon radar transmitter to be installed at St. David's airfield, Dyfed, is such that no interference to radio, television or other telecommunications facilities is expected.

§ Mr. Nicholas Bennett
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has as to any hazards to health which might be found within the boundary of the proposed over-the-horizon radar installation on the site of the former St. David's airfield, Pembrokeshire.

§ Mr. Alan Clark
The proposed over-the-horizon radar transmitter to be installed at St. David's airfield, Dyfed, will emit high-frequency electromagnetic radiation. In common with radiation from similar sources, such as radio broadcast transmitters, such radiation can, at very close ranges, be harmful. A safety exclusion zone will therefore be installed around the transmitter; its boundary will be well within the MOD perimeter boundary of the airfield.

§ Mr. Nicholas Bennett
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many other sites were considered for the proposed over-the-horizon radar installation which is proposed for the former St. David's airfield, Pembrokeshire.

§ Mr. Alan Clark
A total of 166 sites were considered for the installation of either the transmitter or the receiver for the proposed trial of an over-the-horizon radar in the United Kingdom.

§ Mr. Nicholas Bennett
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence who was informed of the proposed over-the-horizon radar installation for St. David's airfield, Pembrokeshire, in November 1988; and what response was received from those so informed.

§ Mr. Alan Clark
The then Parly Under-Secretary of State for the Armed Forces, my hon. Friend the Member for Kettering (Mr. Freeman), wrote to inform my hon. Friend the Member for Wiltshire, North (Mr. Needham) and the hon. Member for Ceredigion and Pembroke, North (Mr. Howells) on 22 November 1988 that the Ministry of Defence was considering the installation of an over-the-horizon radar for a two-year trial; but that no decisions had been made. I greatly regret that, in error, my hon. Friend was not similarly informed at that date that we were considering undertaking the trial.
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My hon. Friend the Member for Wiltshire, North was subsequently, at his request, briefed more fully by my hon. Friend the then Parly Under-Secretary of State for the Armed Forces, in April 1989.
The Pembrokeshire national park authorities were separately notified in late 1988 that the Ministry was considering the use of St. David's airfield as the transmitter site for this trial.

§ Mr. Nicholas Bennett
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many representations he has received to date on his proposal to construct an over-the-horizon radar installation on the site of the former St. David's airfield, Pembrokeshire; and if he will make a statement on the nature of the representations.

§ Mr. Alan Clark
In addition to a number of parliamentary questions on the subject, I have received to date four letters from members of the public expressing concern about the possible environmental effects of the installation of an over-the-horizon radar transmitter at St. David's airfield, Dyfed.

§ Mr. Nicholas Bennett
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give details of the acreage and number of buildings and other ancillary equipment which would be used on the former St. David's airfield for the proposed over-the-horizon radar installation if approved.

§ Mr. Alan Clark
The total land area required for the installation of an over-the-horizon radar transmitter at St. David's airfield, Dyfed, is about 85 acres, including a safety exclusion zone around the installation. Included in this area will be a single-storey temporary building and about 15 equipment containers.

§ Mr. Nicholas Bennett
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration was given to the siting of the proposed over-the-horizon radar installation within the Royal Air Force station at Brawdy, Pembrokeshire.

§ Mr. Alan Clark
RAF Brawdy, as an operational airfield with limited available space, would not be capable of accommodating an over-the-horizon radar transmitter with its associated safety exclusion zone.

§ Mr. Nicholas Bennett
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will make a visit to the St. David's area of Pembrokeshire to discuss his Ministry's proposals for an over-the-horizon radar installation on the site of the former St. David's airfield, Pembrokeshire.

§ Mr. Alan Clark
I have no immediate plans to do so; but officials from my Department, together with United States Government representatives, plan to make a full public presentation of our proposals to the local community and other interested parties once a formal notice of proposed development, supported by an independent environmental impact assessment, has been submitted to the Pembrokeshire national park authorities. We expect this to take place in late summer.

§ Mr. Nicholas Bennett
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when Dyfed county council was first informed of the proposed over-the-horizon radar installation at the former St. David's airfield, Pembrokeshire.

§ Mr. Alan Clark
There is no formal requirement for the Ministry of Defence to inform Dyfed county council of the 71W proposed installation of an over-the-horizon radar at St. David's airfield. I understand, however, that the Pembrokeshire national park authorities plan fully to consult local communities and all other interested parties once the formal notice of proposed development has been submitted.

§ Mr. Nicholas Bennett
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has as to the number of(a) United States armed forces personnel, (b) Royal Air Force personnel, (c) other military personnel and (d) civilians who would be employed at the proposed over-the-horizon radar installation on the site of the former St. David's airfield, Pembrokeshire after construction.

§ Mr. Alan Clark
No United Kingdom or United States military personnel will be based at the transmitter site of the proposed over-the-horizon radar. Up to 19 civilian maintenance and support staff will be based there after construction is complete.

§ Mr. Rogers
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment has been made of the effects on civil aircraft of the proposed trials of a new radar transmitter at RAF Brawdy.

§ Mr. Alan Clark
As is the case with all transmitting systems, there is a high intensity radio transmission area (HIRTA) associated with the proposed over-the-horizon radar transmitter at St. David's airfield, Dyfed, within which it would be unsafe for aircraft which are susceptible to induced electrical currents to operate. Notification of this HIRTA will be made as part of the process of application for military clearance to use the site. Full details will be made available to the national air traffic services and the civil aviation community.

§ Mr. Nicholas Bennett
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give details of the number, height, width and construction of the aerials proposed for the over-the-horizon radar installation at the former St. David's airfield, Pembrokeshire.

§ Mr. Alan Clark
The proposed over-the-horizon radar transmitter to be installed at St. David's airfield, Dyfed, will consist of 35 aerials. These will consist of metal lattice masts with the copper aerial elements vertically strung from a wire that runs down from the top of the aerial to a pole in front. Sixteen of the aerials will be about 135 ft high; the rest will be lower. The total land required for the installation is about 2,480 ft by 1,450 ft; this includes the safety exclusion zone surrounding the installation.

§ Mr. Nicholas Bennett
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what financial contribution towards the annual running costs of the proposed over-the-horizon radar installation on the site of the former St. David's airfield, Pembrokeshire, is to be made by the United States Government.

§ Mr. Alan Clark
The United States Government will be responsible for providing spares, specialist support and system maintenance for the trial of an over-the horizon radar in the United Kingdom; they will also provide the personnel necessary to support their own participation in the trial.
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§ Mr. Nicholas Bennett
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimates he has as to the likely construction costs of the proposed over-the-horizon radar installation at St. David's airfield, Pembrokeshire.

§ Mr. Alan Clark
The construction costs of the proposed over-the-horizon radar transmitter at St. David's airfield, Dyfed, are estimated to be about £3.5 million.

§ Mr. Nicholas Bennett
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give details of the consultation process which he intends to institute for consideration of his proposals for an over-the-horizon radar installation at the former St. David's airfield, Pembrokeshire.

§ Mr. Alan Clark
In accordance with the formal notification procedures established by the Government in 1984 for developments to be undertaken by Government Departments, the Ministry of Defence plans to submit a notice of proposed development (NOPD) to the appropriate planning authority, Pembrokeshire national park, in respect of the proposed installation of an over-the-horizon radar at St. David's airfield, Dyfed. This will be supported by a full and independent environmental impact assessment. Once the NOPD has been submitted, it is intended to give a full public presentation of proposals for the installation jointly with the United States authorities. We expect this to take place in late summer. I also understand that the Pembrokeshire national park authorities intend fully to consult the local community and all other interested parties once the formal NOPD has been submitted.

§ Mr. Nicholas Bennett
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has as to the number of people who would be employed on the construction of the over-the-horizon radar installation on the site of the former St. David's airfield, Pembrokeshire.

§ Mr. Alan Clark
This will depend on the detailed proposals of the contractor who wins the competition to carry out this work.

§ Mr. Nicholas Bennett
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the Pembrokeshire national park was first informed of the proposed over-the-horizon radar installation on the site of the former St. David's airfield, Pembrokeshire.

§ Mr. Alan Clark
The authorities of the Pembrokeshire national park, which is the appropriate planning authority in this case, were notified in late 1988 that the Ministry of Defence was considering the possible use of St. David's airfield as the transmitter site for the two-year trial of an over-the-horizon radar in the United Kingdom.

§ Mr. Nicholas Bennett
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the proposed date for the start of construction of the over-the-horizon radar installation; and what is the likely construction period.

§ Mr. Alan Clark
Construction is planned to start in mid to late 1991 and is expected to take about a year to complete.

§ Mr. Rogers
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether any of the proposed trials of a new radar transmitter at RAF Brawdy will test its ability to integrate with NATO communications systems.
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§ Mr. Alan Clark
The proposed two-year trial of an over-the-horizon radar in the United Kingdom will not specifically include its ability to integrate with NATO communications systems.

§ Mr. Rogers
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment has been made of the effects on the human body of the proposed trials of a new radar transmitter at RAF Brawdy.

§ Mr, Alan Clark
My Department has no plans to trial a new radar transmitter at RAF Brawdy.