§ 2.20 p.m.
§ LORD FRASER OF LONSDALEMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Second Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they are yet in a position to announce any plans for British participation in space research either alone or in conjunction with countries in Europe or the Commonwealth, and how far the missile Blue Streak will be used for such purposes.]
§ VISCOUNT HAILSHAMMy Lords, I do not feel able at this stage to add to what the Parliamentary Secretary for Science said in a reply to a question in another place on May 2. I am sending my noble friend a copy.
§ LORD FRASER OF LONSDALEMy Lords, while thanking my noble friend for having let me see a copy of the statement made in another place in advance of this Question, may I ask him whether further thought can be given to any directions in which this country could make explorations in space, or scientific inquiries about space, which would of themselves contribute something to the world's knowledge, rather than merely to copy the other two great nations?
§ VISCOUNT HAILSHAMMy Lords, everything that we are doing is an original contribution to the world's knowledge. Both the radio telescope programme, which is, I think, completely unique in kind and also Lin magnitude, and the sounding experiments with the Skylark and the proposed and, I think, forthcoming experiments with the Scoutlauncher, are designed precisely with that end in view, and will have that effect.