HC Deb 15 June 1992 vol 209 cc425-6W
Mrs. Ray Michie

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his plans for the development of an acoustic net pinger to assist submarines in locating the presence of fishing nets.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

A contract is shortly to be placed with Graseby Dynamics Ltd. of Bushey, Hertfordshire for the supply of 100 acoustic net pingers. These pingers will be used in an extended sea trial to assess their effectiveness in a working environment. It is planned that the trial, which will be carried out in the Clyde submarine exercise areas in conjunction with the Clyde Fishermens Association, will begin in early 1993 and last for about 18

obstetric or general practitioner maternity beds in 1990–91, and give the number of beds of each type in each hospital.

Mr. Aitken

The information requested is as follows:

months. This contract follows the completion of a technical specification by the maritime division of the Defence Research Agency for which competitive tenders were sought.

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