asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether there are plans to install weather radar in the Shetland Isles; and whether the former Royal Air Force site Saxa Vord has been secured by the Ministry of Defence pending a decision on this matter. [HL1603]

Due to the high costs involved, the Met Office always seeks partners willing to share the expense of installing and running new weather radar. The Met Office has advised local interested parties that if a partner or partners were found willing to make significant contributions towards the capital and operating costs of a weather radar on the Shetland Islands, it could undertake a feasibility study to establish more definite costs of the proposal.

The Met Office has expressed an interest in the upper site at Saxa Vord as a potential location for a weather radar, in the event this matter can be progressed. Other sites may also be suitable.