Space Activities

Oral Answers to Questions — Home Department – in the House of Commons am 12:00 am ar 12 Mawrth 1970.

Danfonwch hysbysiad imi am ddadleuon fel hyn

Photo of Mr Neil Marten Mr Neil Marten , Banbury 12:00, 12 Mawrth 1970

asked the Prime Minister if he is satisfied with the coordination between Ministers dealing with the various aspects of British satellite and other space activities.

Photo of Mr Neil Marten Mr Neil Marten , Banbury

Now that the French and the Japanese have both achieved their own launching capability for satellites, is it not high time that Britain, instead of relying on America, moved towards getting its own capability for commercial purposes?

Photo of Mr Harold Wilson Mr Harold Wilson , Huyton

I know that the hon. Member is concerned about this. He has put six Questions on it already, and I have answered them. We have to decide what is the most cost-effective way of using our technical and scientific resources. We do not believe that the programme we inherited of very great expenditure for prestige efforts in space is the best way of using our technological resources. That is why we have not followed up some of the proposals of the Opposition, including some to which we were committed regardless of cost. The British delegate under the control of hon. Members opposite insisted that a proposal to put a cost limit on E.L.D.O. should be abandoned and Britain committed to vast expenditure which yielded no return.

Photo of Mr Robert Maxwell Mr Robert Maxwell , Buckingham

Was not one of the rockets inherited from the former Administration Blue Streak? Can my right hon. Friend say whether E.L.D.O. has now decided to purchase some of these rockets for the European launcher or not?

Photo of Mr Harold Wilson Mr Harold Wilson , Huyton

That is up to E.L.D.O. I do not know whether a decision has been taken, but the inordinate cost of the venture was paid exclusively when right hon. Members opposite were in office.