Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress he has made on delivering the Deep Space Advanced Radar Capability programme.

An Outline Business Case covering the Construction Test and Evaluation phase for the Deep Space Advanced Radar Capability programme (DARC) was submitted to the Ministry of Defence (MOD) Investments Approval Committee this summer. It is now being considered alongside other investments as part of the Government's ongoing Defence Investment Plan (DIP).

The MOD has already begun a comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the proposed redevelopment of Cawdor Barracks for the DARC site. This includes a Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment to ensure that DARC has a minimal impact on the local skyline.

The EIA is part of a Town Planning application that will be submitted to the local planning authority in due course.