HC Deb 24 January 1961 vol 633 cc29-30
43. Mr. Wyatt

asked the Prime Minister whether he will now appoint a Minister of Space Research and Development.

The Prime Minister

No, Sir.

Mr. Wyatt

Does not the Prime Minister think that it is a crazy idea to have the Minister for Science at home pouring scorn on the practicability of a British space programme and the Minister of Aviation touring abroad trying to persuade other countries what a good idea it is? Would it not be much more sensible to have one Minister in charge instead of two Ministers taking different lines, and to get on with the job of providing a British communications satellite system with which we could make a great deal of money? We are at present losing the opportunity to make that money. Will not he get on with it?

The Prime Minister

That is exactly what we are trying to do—get on with it as rapidly as possible.