§ 3.3 p.m.
VISCOUNT STANSGATEMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government what consideration has been given to the question of International Law in space and its enforcement.]
§ VISCOUNT HAILSHAMMy Lords, Her Majesty's Government themselves have naturally given consideration to these matters in the past and are continuing to do so. Inter-Governmental discussions on questions of space law took place in the United Nations ad hoc Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space in 1959. In December, 1959, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a unanimous resolution setting up a 24-nation Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space to work during 1960 and 1961. The Committee (and I quote) is instructed to
study the nature of legal problems which may arise from the exploration of outer space.It is hoped that the Committee will begin its work shortly. The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, the United States of America and the United Kingdom are all members of it. If the noble Viscount has a specific point in mind and will be good enough to put a question down I will do my best to answer it.
VISCOUNT STANSGATEMy Lords, I have a specific point in mind. In the opinion of Her Majesty's Government, is it legal for us to participate in or facilitate the present aerial survey of the Soviet Union?
§ LORD BOOTHBYMy Lords, does not the noble and learned Viscount think that until we know how to run our own space a little better than we do, we had better leave outer space alone?
§ VISCOUNT HAILSHAMI told the noble Viscount that if he had a specific point in mind and would put it down, I should be very happy to reply. That was in my original Answer.
VISCOUNT STANSGATEMy Lords, I have put a point, a very specific point, a very immediate point, especially in view of the orders given to Marshal Malinovsky to take action in case of the invasion of territorial air in Russia, without waiting for orders from the Kremlin. That makes it urgent; and, if the noble Viscount would permit me, it is a simple, specific question: is it legal or illegal to carry on this aerial survey of a foreign country?
§ VISCOUNT HAILSHAMWhatever else the aerial survey may refer to, it did not refer to outer space, but the noble Viscount's Question did. If the noble Viscount will put his particular question down, I will, as I have now promised him twice, endeavour to answer that one, too.
§ VISCOUNT HAILSHAMI understand that "space" does not mean the atmosphere.