§ 34. Mr. Brooksasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the accumulating space debris circling the earth, Her Majesty's Government will propose in the United Nations Organisation that international action be taken to reduce the growing danger of such debris causing devastation upon re-entry above built-up areas.
§ Mrs. WhiteThe United Nations have tried for some two years without success to agree on a draft convention on liability for damage caused by objects from Outer Space. As it has proved so difficult to achieve agreement even on this basic legal aspect of the problem I doubt whether the action suggested by my hon. Friend would be effective.
§ Mr. BrooksIn view of the fact that there are now over 400 objects in orbit, and in view of the fact that it is likely that much heavier booster stages will be used in the moon programmes of some Powers, does not my right hon. Friend agree that we should continue to press for some such action to be taken before the risks which are now apparent become even more serious?
§ Mrs. WhiteCertainly we should wish to do anything possible to meet what may be a difficult situation. I am advised—I am only an innumerate Minister at the Foreign Office—that only in exceptional cases would space debris survive being burned out by re-entry into the atmosphere.