§ Mr. Martenasked the Minister of Aviation if he will set out the estimated amounts spent by Great Britain in 1965 on the space programme in real terms, as a percentage of the gross national product, and on a per capita basis as compared with other Western European countries for which he has figures from international organisations.
§ Mr. MulleyThe total of the estimated expenditure by the United Kingdom in 1965–66 on the space programme, disclosed in current replies to other Questions by the hon. Member, amounts to about £22 million, which represents 129W 0.07 per cent. of the gross national product. As regards comparison on a per capita basis with space expenditure in other Western European countries, certain figures of annual expenditure were quoted in a recent report to the Assembly of Western European Union by its Committee on Space Questions. On the basis of those figures the annual per capita rates of expenditure appear to be as follows:
Per head of the population Belgium … 1 0 France … 9 6 Federal Republic Germany … 6 0 Netherlands … 2 3 United Kingdom … 5 6
§ Mr. Martenasked the Minister of Aviation how much his Department spent on space developments in 1965; and what is the estimated expenditure for 1966, showing in each case how much of the money was not spent in Great Britain.
§ Mr. MulleyProvision in the 1965–66 Estimates for expenditure by the Ministry of Aviation on space research and development, other than to meet specific requirements of the Ministry of Defence and the Science Research Council, was £15.32 million. The estimated transactions with the European Launcher Development Organisation included in this figure showed a net payment of £2.21 million, which can be regarded as expenditure outside the United Kingdom and is the only significant item in this category. As regards 1966–67, I must ask the hon. Member to await the publication of the Estimates for that year.
§ Mr. Martenasked the Minister of Aviation if he will give an estimate of the number of people in Great Britain employed on the British space programme.
§ Mr. MulleyIt is estimated that about 3,800 persons in the United Kingdom are employed on the British space programme, including work for E.L.D.O. and E.S.R.O.