§ Dame Joan Vickersasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether, in view of Recommendation 181 on the evolution of European space activities adopted by the Assembly of the Western European Union on 17th June, 1969, he will promote the convening of a conference of C.E.T.S. to consider a comprehensive range of draft final arrangements for the INTELSAT negotiations, and propose profitable tasks for the European space organisations in the field of telecommunications by satellite.
§ Mr. MulleyA series of meetings of the European Conference on Satellite Communications (C.E.T.S.) was held prior to the first Conference on the Definitive Arrangements for INTELSAT,212W held in February-March of this year, with a view to co-ordinating the positions of C.E.T.S. governments. The work of the INTELSAT Conference is now being carried forward by its Preparatory Committee of which the United Kingdom is a member. The United Kingdom Delegation, together with Delegates of other C.E.T.S. Governments, are in continuous consultation throughout these negotiations. None of these Governments has expressed the view that a formal C.E.T.S. Conference is necessary at this stage.
C.E.T.S. Governments are represented in the European Space Conference Committee of Senior Officials, which is drawing up a programme of European space activities including projects in the field of satellite communications.