HC Deb 05 December 1960 vol 631 cc842-3
25. Mr. Donnelly

asked the Minister of Aviation Whether he will make a further statement regarding the progress he is making towards a British research programme into outer space.

30. Mr. Wyatt

asked the Minister of Aviation whether he is now in a position to make a further statement on the Government's plans for space research.

32. Mr. Strauss

asked the Minister of Aviation Whether Blue Streak will be made available, on suitable terms and conditions, to the European Space Research Organisation as a satellite launcher.

The Minister of Aviation (Mr. Peter Thorneycroft)

At present I am unable to add to the Answer I gave to the hon. Members for Bosworth (Mr. Wyatt) and Stockton-on-Tees (Mr. Chetwynd) on 7th November.

Mr. Donnelly

Can the right hon. Gentleman say what significance there is in the conference which Sir Harrie Massey has recently been attending?

Mr. Thorneycroft

That conference was concerned with the analogous subject of space research. At that conference there was agreement amongst all the European nations participating to go forward with research into space. What we are concerned with here is the launcher.

Mr. Wyatt

Does the Minister know that the Bell Telephone Company of America has prepared a scheme for a system of communication satellites which will cost about £70 million and will produce a profit of about £1,000 million a year, and that we are to have no share in this unless the Government do something quickly? Is not it carrying Governmental complacency too far to do nothing whatever about this subject of space research when everybody else will cash in on it?

Mr. Thorneycroft

On the question of space research, as such, I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the Answer I have given. As for the launcher, there is some advantage in having conversations with our friends on the decision to go forward.

Mr. Strauss

The Minister has referred to his previous Answer, but in that Answer he never said anything about the possibility of allowing Blue Streak to be used by the European Space Research Organisation. I would ask him to make it available. Is there any reason, in principle, why Blue Streak—which appears to be the only launcher for satellites that we have at present—should not be made available, under proper terms and conditions, to any European effort organised on these lines?

Mr. Thorneycroft

If the decision were made to go ahead with Blue Streak as a satellite launcher it would be available to the European Space Research Organisation.

Mr. John Hall

Can my right hon. Friend comment on the statement of the hon. Member for Bosworth (Mr. Wyatt) that there is a profit of £1,000 million a year to be made on this project?

Mr. Thorneycroft

I shall refrain from commenting on such matters.