§ Q1. Mr. Dalyellasked the Prime Minister if he is satisfied with the co-ordination between the Department of Trade and Industry, the Foreign Office and the Ministry of Defence in making the preparations for the European Space Conference on 11th-12th July, which will decide whether or not to participate in the post-Apollo project with the Americans.
§ The Prime Minister (Mr. Edward Heath)Yes, Sir.
§ Mr. DalyellThat is inconceivable. What is the Prime Minister's version of the events which led up to the postponement of the European Space Conference at the 59th minute of the 11th hour?
§ The Prime MinisterThe fact that other countries did not want to hold it.
§ Mr. Ian LloydHas the Prime Minister received the unanimous representations made by the British aerospace industry on the question and does he think they are consistent with the advice given to him on the subject by his civil servants?
§ The Prime MinisterMinisters do not discuss advice given to them by civil servants. The position is that the Americans expressed a preference for a European approach to the post-Apollo project, and it must be settled, therefore, by a European conference.
§ Mr. BennWill the Prime Minister publish a White Paper on the project, as large sums of money and a large number of skilled people are required? Before this country is committed by the Government to a space programme of this kind in these circumstances the public will want to be satisfied that this should be the priority for these scarce resources when there are many other schemes to which they might be applied.
§ The Prime MinisterThe right hon. Gentleman is correct and I think that most European countries take that view. That is why they are examining the project with great care. They have had to ask for the information from the Americans. The first calculation is that for the United Kingdom it would involve a cost of about £20 million. That is a 1400 very large sum. But as the American project has now changed its nature considerably since the first invitation was made——
§ Mr. DalyellWe were too late.
§ The Prime MinisterThe hon. Member must not say that it was because Europe was too late. The plain fact is that the American concept has completely changed, and President Nixon has made clear to his own Congress his reasons for this. Europe now must decide whether to take part in the new concept, which is one of almost entirely orthodox technology as far as Europe is concerned.