§ Mr. Cohenasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list all communications satellites (a) currently in orbit and (b) proposed.
§ Mr. PattieAttempting to list all the communication satellites either currently in orbit or in prospect would be a very major task. Confining the question to national satellites, there are currently no normally operational United Kingdom communication satellites, although some remain live in a technical sense. Looking to the future, the possibilities become too speculative unless the test is applied of a launch having been reserved already for a satellite which will be for the United Kingdom to register internationally. On this basis there are launch plans for up to three Skynet-4 defence communication satellites. Plans for two satellites for direct television broadcasting are also being prepared on a commercial basis.