HC Deb 26 February 1964 vol 690 cc420-2
28. Mr. Mason

asked the Postmaster-General if his Department has now fully considered the Lighthill Report; and if he will now make a statement on his future intentions regarding Great Britain's rôle in the development of a satellite communication system.

Mr. Bevins

The Government's objective is the creation of a world system for satellite communications, in partnership with the United States, the Commonwealth and European and other countries, on conditions which will give countries investing in the system a share in settling its design and character, and in its management and control, and an opportunity to provide some of the equipment. International discussions to this end are proceeding. In regard to design, full account is being taken of the technical analysis given in the report mentioned by the hon. Member, about which he put a Question to my right hon. Friend, the Minister of Aviation, on 21st November last.

Mr. Mason

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that we hope that there will be no deal with COMSAT and the United States Government before there has been previous discussion in the House? Is he further aware that many hon. Members on both sides of the House and the whole of the telecommunication industry are disturbed that Britain is not playing a more positive and prominent part in space communication? Is he aware that there is now a growing feeling that, according to the trend of present talks, we shall finally end by starving the transatlantic cable of telegraphic communications from America and assisting COMSAT to get off the ground, and that Britain will merely end up by renting a line from the Americans? Can the right hon. Gentleman assure us that none of these things will happen at the conclusion of his talks with the Americans?

Mr. Bevins

On the question of consulting Parliament, we have not reached that stage in our negotiations at the moment, but it would certainly be my hope that the House of Commons ought to be consulted before any final decision is taken. As for the hon. Member's other questions, the Government's view is that the only way of preventing an American monopoly in this sphere is to join a partnership with the United States and other countries and so secure the right to influence the course of events. It is important to bear in mind that throughout the discussions there has been no indication that members of the Commonwealth have taken a different line on this.

Sir H. Legge-Bourke

Would my right hon. Friend elucidate a little upon his policy for the financing of all this? Is he aware that if ample opportunity is given there is considerable scope for the private sector to contribute to this matter and that this will be all the more difficult if we are linking our industry solely to the E.L.D.O. project with Europe? Will my right hon. Friend also hear in mind that there is a rôle which the Commonwealth might be able to play, complementary to but virtually independent from the United States, especially as far as the Commonwealth and the Indian Ocean are concerned?

Mr. Bevins

As the matter develops there may be something in my hon. Friend's final point. As for putting up the money for the enterprise, it is only right to say that at the moment our thinking is in terms of Government money and not private money, but no final decision has been taken.

Mr. Mason

In view of the dissemination of effort by this country on space communications, with a share in E.S.R.O. and a share in E.L.D.O. and a part in Woomera with Blue Streak, may I ask how big a part we are going to play in the development of this universal system, in which obviously the United States will play the biggest part of all?

Mr. Bevins

The general idea is that those countries which want to participate in this universal system should participate on the basis of the volume of international traffic which they disseminate or receive. On that basis there is no reason to suppose that this country would not take a pretty prominant part in the venture.