§ Mr. BatisteTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if the United Kingdom has joined the Ariane 5 programme; and when its first launch is due to take place. [19205]
§ Mr. Ian TaylorI am pleased to confirm that the UK has joined the Ariane 5 programme. The Government have committed £2.8 million to this project up to the year 2000. The European Space Agency plans to carry out the first launch of Ariane 5 on 15 May 1996 and its payload 17W will be the four-satellite ESA science mission, "Cluster". UK industry contributed significantly to Ariane 4, which captured 60 per cent. of the world market for launching commercial satellites. This new programme will enable UK companies to transfer their skills and to pursue competitive opportunities well into the next century.
UK companies and UK science have helped to make Ariane 4 a success story by supplying specialist systems and components for the launcher and for ground control. Until now, the UK Government have chosen not to contribute to the next generation, Ariane 5, which was originally designed to launch the European spaceplane Hermes. However, welcoming the fact that Ariane 5 has since been more clearly matched to the worldwide needs of customers wanting to launch the next generation of communication and scientific satellites, we agreed last year to reconsider that earlier decision. As a full member of Ariane 5, we can support this important collaborative endeavour and ensure access to cost effective and highly reliable launch services. This is of particular importance to the UK as we are Europe's largest users of space-derived services. In addition, I have asked the British national space centre to consider exploitation of other flexible launch systems appropriate to small payloads for specific experiments.
My announcement coincides with confirmation today by ESA and the French space agency, CNES, of the start of prepartions for the first launch of Ariane 5.
I would like to congratulate those UK companies who are already suppliers to Arianespace and anticipate that my announcement today will lead to further opportunities for them and for other UK companies. This is a fine example of Government and industry working in partnership.