HC Deb 25 April 1961 vol 639 cc31-2W
68. Mr. Woodburn

asked the Lord Privy Seal what consultations about a joint space satellite programme have taken place between Her Majesty's Government and the French and United States Governments since the agreement between the two latter Governments was arrived at recently.

Mr. Ormsby Gore

Last month the French and United States authorities concluded two separate bilateral understandings on co-operation in space matters. The first deals with a purely scientific programme and the second with joint experiments with communication satellites. Both these agreements are paralleled by similar ones existing between ourselves and the United States, and the three countries will co-operate closely in the experiments with communications satellites.

We are in regular contact with both the French and United States Governments on space research and wider international discussions are, of course, in progress. But there have been no specific consultations of the kind referred to by the right hon. Gentleman during recent weeks.