HC Deb 03 February 1959 vol 599 cc176-7
6. Mr. Gresham Cooke

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works, as representing the Lord President of the Council, what information accruing from the flight of Russian satellites and space rockets has been transmitted from Russian to British official sources, in accordance with agreements entered into for the International Geophysical Year.

Mr. H. Nicholls

The International Geophysical Year scheme for the interchange of information about rocket and satellite investigations only involves publication of full scientific reports in literature of general availability within twelve months from the end of each experiment. The Royal Society has informed my noble Friend that so far sixteen preliminary Russian reports have been received by it, including all types of information covered by the scheme.

Mr. Gresham Cooke

Can my right hon. Friend say what type of information we are receiving, and whether we have received information about the recent Russian space rocket flight?

Mr. Nicholls

As yet no information has been received about the scientific results obtained from the recent Russian space rocket, but preliminary results may be available by the end of February. As for the type of information provided, it deals with the ionosphere, cosmic rays, geo-magnetism, meteors, corpuscular radiation from the sun, solar flares, and biological information is also provided.

Mr. Beswick

Is not it a fact that the Russians have honoured all their undertakings with regard to the International Geophysical Year and, further, have offered to pool resources in an international effort to send a rocket into outer space? Can the Minister say why the Government have not been more enthusiastic about accepting that offer?

Mr. Nicholls

I have no information that the Russians have done anything other than play their part in accordance with the agreements they made. I think that my reply showed that that is so. As for the recent space rocket, we are expecting some information by the end of February and, taking everything into account, time has not been wasted.