§ Mr. ChaytorTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what contingency plans he has for dealing with the effects of premature re-entry of the space probe Cassini. [70455]
§ Mr. George HowarthThe Home Office is the lead government department for satellite incidents. Arrangements are in place to track satellites and advise local authorities and emergency services of any possible impact in the United Kingdom so that local response arrangements can be activated.
Current advice is that the space probe Cassini is unlikely to collide with Earth and is still less likely to hit this country.
My officials will, however, continue to monitor the situation.