§ 3.40 p.m.
§ TIIE EARL OF KINNOULLMy 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 whether a decision has yet been reached to support our European partners in participation in the American post-Apollo programme.
§ THE MINISTER WITHOUT PORTFOLIO (LORD DRUMALBYN)My Lords, we are examining the merits of participation jointly with our European Space Conference partners. A meeting of the Conference is being planned for July for the purpose of taking decisions on participation.
§ THE EARL OF KINNOULLMy Lords, while thanking my noble friend for that reply, would he agree that it is very important to British aerospace technology that we should play a part in this programme, and can he say how long we have in which to make up our minds so far as the Americans are concerned? Finally, if we do go in, can he say what length of programme we should be committed to?
§ LORD DRUMALBYNMy Lords, so far as the first part of the question is concerned, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration of the United States of America envisage placing contracts to United States prime contractors about the middle of this year. They would also like a decision in principle to participate in the tug or orbital systems development, so there is not very much 415 time for us to take a decision; but of course this meeting, which is to take place in July, will take that decision.
§ LORD WYNNE-JONESMy Lords, can the noble Lord tell us whether Her Majesty's Government are paying close attention to the presentation on this issue which was made by M. Giscard d'Estaing to the North Atlantic Assembly, where the great importance of building up an industry, both in this country and in Europe, in order to collaborate with the Americans was emphasised?
§ LORD DRUMALBYNMy Lords, naturally Her Majesty's Government are aware of this presentation and are taking it into account.