§ Mr. Michael McNair-WilsonTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster who currently is the deputy director of the British National Space Centre; and how many of those who are its officers are drawn from industry.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeThere is no official position of deputy director of the British National Space Centre. Mr. A. C. Nicholas and Mr. K. Inglis acted temporarily as deputy directors following the retirement of Mr. J. C. Leeming on 28 February 1988. I have announced —Official Report, 18 April 1988, columns 350–51— the appointment of Mr. Arthur Pryor as the new director. None of the BNSC staff is from industry, though an industry representative sits on the BNSC management board.
§ Mr. Michael McNair-WilsonTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether the British National Space Centre is funded entirely from public funds; and if he will make a statement on its future.
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§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeThe British National Space Centre is funded entirely from public funds. I have nothing further to add to my answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Corby (Mr. Powell) on 18 April 1988.
§ Mr. Michael McNair-WilsonTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list the names of those who serve at the British National Space Centre and if he will state the terms of reference defining the role of the centre, and the budget available to it.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeThe British National Space Centre was set up to co-ordinate the civil space interests of Government, including those of the Department of Trade and Industry, the Ministry of Defence, the Science and Engineering Research Council and the National Environment Research Council. The BNSC co-ordinates an annual budget of some 120 million and has a staff of around 300.
§ Mr. BerminghamTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what progress has been made concerning the appointment of a director for the National Space Centre.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeI announced the appointment of Mr. Arthur Pryor as director general on 18 April.