HC Deb 01 February 2000 vol 343 cc535-6W
Mr. Dalyell

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions he has had with the authorities of the European Southern Observatory and Governments of nations participating in the European Southern Observatory about United Kingdom involvement in the project. [106370]

Ms Hewitt

Neither my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State nor my noble Friend the Minister for Science have had any discussions with the authorities of the European Southern Observatory (ESO), or with Governments of ESO member states about UK participation in ESO.

Any potential future UK membership of, or involvement with, ESO would be funded by the science vote through the budget of the Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council (PPARC). Senior officials from PPARC have had initial exploratory discussions with ESO officials about potential UK involvement with ESO, but this has not led to any specific recommendations for Ministerial consideration.