§ Mr. Bishopasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what representations have been made to him by the British Interplanetary Society regarding the merging of the European Launcher Development Organisation and the European Space Research Organisation into a single European space authority and the negotiation of viable international programmes in conjunction with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration; and what reply he has sent;
(2) what representations have been made to him by the British Interplanetary Society regarding United Kingdom collaboration in the United States post-Apollo space programme in relation to the development of a re-usable space 206W shuttle to reduce launching costs; and what reply he has sent.
§ Mr. David PriceNo formal representations have been made to my right hon. Friend, but I have seen a copy of the Society's Press Release of 1st February, 1972, and have taken note of the Society's views.
§ Mr. Bishopasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is his policy with regard to further space shuttle work in relation to Hawker Siddeley, the British Aircraft Corporation and other United Kingdom firms in collaboration with North American Rockwell, and McDonnell Douglas and Grumman and other firms of the United States of America and in relation to European countries.
§ Mr. David PriceStudies of the space shuttle project by Hawker Siddeley and the British Aircraft Corporation in collaboration with United States' industry are being supported by the Department. We have also contributed to "post-Apollo" studies, carried out under the auspices of the European Space Conference. We are participating in discussions with our Conference partners and, jointly with them, with the United States authorities preparatory to arriving at a decision later on this year on European participation in the post-Apollo programme.