§ Sir Dudley SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the progress being made by the Western European Union satellite centre at Torrejon, Spain; and what additional efforts he is making to further this project.
§ Mr. HanleyGood progress is being made in the development of the WEU satellite centre at Torrejon. The centre has been established for a three year experimental period, and its formal inauguration, attended by my predecessor, my right hon. Friend the Member for Epsom 201W and Ewell (Mr. Hamilton), took place in April this year. The United Kingdom contribution to the cost of the experimental phase is some £4,600,000 over three years. In addition, the United Kingdom is playing a full part in the activities of the centre. The contract for the provision of technical equipment was awarded to a United Kingdom-led consortium and the staff of the centre currently includes a number of United Kingdom personnel.