§ Q3. Mr. Dalyellasked the Prime Minister if he will discuss European participation in the post-Apollo programme with the Canadian Prime Minister.
§ The Prime MinisterI would refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer which I gave him on 21st November.—[Vol. 846, c. 377.]
§ Mr. DalyellIs not the programme of the European Space Agency at least four years on? As the Americans will be facing the major design, feasibility and engineering contracts by the late spring, is it desirable that we should go ahead on a national rather than a European basis?
§ The Prime MinisterThat is not a matter which I discussed with Mr. Trudeau.
§ Mr. DalyellThat is a very easy answer.
§ Mr. WilkinsonMay I draw my right hon. Friend's attention to the speech of the Minister for Aerospace and Shipping at the Western European Assembly today in which he pointed out that individually European nations already spend £200 million per annum on civil space projects. Is not the great thing now to get this expenditure, which is one-fifth of the American annual total, into the right institutional framework for an effective programme?
§ The Prime MinisterI agree with my hon. Friend. That is the Government's purpose.