Beagle 2 Project

HC Deb 08 March 2004 vol 418 cc1275-6W

Mr. Blunt

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much public money was spent on the Beagle 2 project. [158577]

Ms Hewitt

The Government made a financial commitment of up to £20 million to the Beagle 2 project. The Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council contributed to the Mars Express Mission through the European Space Agency's science programme and additionally awarded grants totalling £5 million in support of Beagle 2's science instruments and their operation. The Millennium Commission also provided £1 million towards the Beagle Operations Centre.