§ 41. Mr. Wyattasked the Prime Minister whether he will instruct the Minister for Science, the Minister of Aviation and the Postmaster-General to evolve a co-ordinated plan whereby a British communications satellite system employing British launchers can be put into operation at the earliest possible moment.
§ The Prime MinisterSuch instructions are unnecessary. My right hon. Friends and I are naturally co-operating closely in this matter.
§ Mr. WyattIs not the Prime Minister aware that such instructions are very necessary, because nothing whatever has been done by the Government on this subject so far? While the praiseworthy efforts of the Minister of Aviation are much to his credit and to that of the Government, is the Prime Minister not aware that it would be possible for the British to have a scheme of this kind of their own without waiting for Europe? Indeed, it might encourage Europe if we got on with the job first.
§ The Prime MinisterThat is hypothetical, but we are, of course, giving close attention to this matter.
§ Mr. ShinwellIs the Prime Minister aware that some of us, myself in particular, feel that if the Government have any money available it might be used for more immediate purposes, for example, the provision of housing, of which the population is much in need, and that some of these Utopian schemes might be suspended for the time being?
§ The Prime MinisterThat just shows how difficult it is to reach agreed conclusions. There is a great argument that from the technological and scientific point of view, British industry and, therefore, the British people as a whole have much to gain from these studies.