§ Mr. Ronald Brownasked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications (1), having regard to the fact that traffic is currently increasing at a rate of between 18 per cent. and 20 per cent. a year, if he is satisfied that sufficient channel capacity will be available in Intelsat IVA for the increased demands in 1976; and if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the revised programme figures upon which his judgment is made;
(2) why the decision was taken to reject Intelsat V to replace Intelsat IV, having regard to the advantages accruing from the increased channel capacity availability of two and a half times and a cost per channel reduction of one-eighth;
(3) what were the technical reasons for selecting a communications satellite with a built-in limitation of increased channel capacity of 2,000 channels to replace Intelsat IV;
(4) what instructions were issued to the United Kingdom representative on Intelsat concerning the decision to accept Intelsat IVA as a stop-gap communications satellite: and if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the cost per channel for Intelsat IV, IVA and V;
(5) what agreement has been reached between the members of Intelsat and the United States Government for the supply of Atlas-Agenor launchers to launch Intelsat IV satellites; and what the cost per launch is estimated to be in 1976.
§ Sir J. EdenThe Intelsat organisation is managed by an international body of operators of which the Post Office is one, and I am asking the Post Office to write to the hon. Member.