HL Deb 22 July 2004 vol 664 cc85-6WA
Lord Tanlaw

asked Her Majesty's Government:

When the funding available to pay the United Kingdom's subscription to the European Space Agency Preliminary European Space Exploration Programme Aurora will be made known. [HL3901]

Lord Sainsbury of Turville

The European Space Agency has requested that member states advise it of their additional subscriptions to the preliminary phase of the Aurora programme by September 2004. The UK has already contributed 1.4 million euros to a first preparatory phase.

Lord Tanlaw

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the size of the United Kingdom's subscription to the European Space Agency will be at a level sufficient to enable the United Kingdom to maintain leadership within the Aurora programme, and will keep pace with gross domestic product. [HL3902]

Lord Sainsbury of Turville

The scale of the UK's contribution to the Aurora programme will depend on the outcome of the discussions on the definition of the programme and consideration of funding priorities following the spending review 2004 settlement.

Lord Tanlaw

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is the likely amount of the United Kingdom's subscriptions to the European Space Agency Aurora programme. [HL3903]

Lord Sainsbury of Turville

It is too early to say what the level of UK contribution to the Aurora programme is likely to be. The content of, and level of resources for, the full programme are still being defined. The scale of the UK's contribution to the programme will depend on the outcome of these discussions and consideration of funding priorities following the spending review 2004 settlement.