§ Sir Ian Orr-Ewingasked the Prime Minister whether he will now state Her Majesty's Government's policy and plans concerning the British provision of and/or participation in a space satellite system to meet the expanding needs of world-wide communication for commercial, defence, and private purposes.
§ The Prime MinisterA committee under Professor Bondi is at present reviewing general United Kingdom defence interests in space. No long term policy has yet been formulated in respect of communications satellites for defence purposes, although a number of alternatives are being studied. So far as civil communications are concerned, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which my right hon. Friend the Postmaster-General gave to the hon. Member for Bournemouth, West (Sir J. Eden) on 2nd February.