HC Deb 15 June 1967 vol 748 cc743-4
1. Mr. Marten

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement about future plans for satellite launchings.

The Minister of State, Department of Education and Science (Mr. Goronwy Roberts)

I should like to take this opportunity of expressing our gratitude to the United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration for the part which they played in the outstandingly successful launch of Ariel III. Discussions have been held with N.A.S.A. about a further collaborative programme, including a successor to Ariel III. No decisions have yet been taken. In the meantime, British scientists are at work on more than 20 further scientific experiments which will be flown in E.S.R.O. or N.A.S.A. satellites scheduled for launching during the next year or two.

Mr. Marten

May I say how glad I am that the Government are considering a successor to U.K.3? Are they thinking about a satellite for surveying the natural resources of the earth, which is a very important matter? Is he satisfied with the balance of effort between scientific and commercial research on satellites?

Mr. Roberts

The responsibilities of my Department, as exercised by the S.R.C., are limited to satellites which are concerned with scientific research in space, but I have no doubt that the Council has within the ambit of its purview the point the hon. Gentleman makes. I think that the second question might be put either to my right hon. Friend the Postmaster-General or to my right hon. Friend the Minister of Technology.

Sir E. Boyle

Arising out of that last answer, does not the hon. Gentleman agree that it is of great importance that there should be proper co-ordination within the Government regarding all matters to do with space? We recognise the genuine difficulties of the organisation of civil science, but this necessity ought always to be borne in mind.

Mr. Roberts

I fully agree.