§ 9. Mr. Martenasked the Minister of Aviation whether he will now make a statement on the steps he is taking with regard to the development of a British satellite launcher.
§ Mr. Roy JenkinsAs I informed the hon. Member for Eastleigh (Mr. David Price) on 17th March last, a review of United Kingdom interests in space is being undertaken. I cannot make a statement until this review is more advanced.
§ Mr. MartenWould the Minister agree that it is in Britain's interests to have a medium thrust launcher for the development of a purely British satellite?
§ Mr. JenkinsWe will certainly take that fully into account.
§ Mr. A. BoyleIs the Minister aware that the space committee of the Western European Union has asked his Ministry for details of our satellite programme and that it got the details very swiftly and efficiently, but the report is now held up in the Foreign Office? Would he now press the right hon. Gentleman the Foreign Secretary to give details as soon as possible to the Western European Union?
§ Mr. JenkinsI will happily press my right hon. Friend to see that the matters which have gone through my Department are not held up in this way.
§ Mr. MaudeWill the right hon. Gentleman assure the House that he will do his best, as soon as possible, to satisfy 1734 the demand there is for some information about what this country is proposing in the next generation of space satellites launcher development, because there is a great deal of interest and anxiety lest we might be left behind?
§ Mr. JenkinsI will indeed. Work is of course continuing on E.L.D.O. at the present time, and preliminary work is being done on a small satellite launcher, sometimes called Black Arrow. Work is also going on at both Westlands and Bristol Siddeley, and I am aware that as soon as it is reasonably practical a more comprehensive statement will be desirable.