§ Captain Kerbyasked the Minister of Aviation, as representing the Minister for Science, if he will appoint a new committee to advise him on the practicability, or otherwise, of the development of an independent British space research programme, in view of the fact that the Advisory Council on Scientific Policy will now be unable, especially in view of greatly increased costs, to reverse its recommendation of December, 1959, against any such programme.
§ Mr. SandysI would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply which the Prime Minister gave to the hon. Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme (Mr. Swingler) on 26th April. In considering124W whether Britain should undertake a programme of space research the Government is finding no difficulty in obtaining the qualified scientific advice it requires, including, of course, advice in the new circumstances from the Advisory Council on Scientific Policy. There would, therefore, seem to be no advantage in setting up a new Advisory Committee.