§ 15 and 16. Mr. Frank Allaunasked the Minister of Aviation (1) if he will now end all further expenditure on space travel;
(2) if he will now cease all collaboration with the West German Government in relation to space travel.
§ The Minister of Aviation (Mr. Peter Thorneycroft)We are not at present spending and do not contemplate spending anything on space travel either in collaboration with others or on our own.
§ Mr. AllaunIs the Minister aware that I was referring to space research and not space travel? It is my mistake for referring to space travel. On the question of space research, in connection with which we are spending money, is it not true that this money would be far better spent on down-to-earth human needs, and that we cannot compete with the Americans and the Russians in this field, in any case? Lastly, is it not true that this research is mainly—although not exclusively—for war purposes, such as bomber satellites?
§ Mr. ThorneycroftThe hon. Member and I are talking about very different things. If he wishes to ask a question about scientific research in space, perhaps he will put it down to my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary for Science.