European Space Agency

HC Deb 17 July 1973 vol 860 cc111-2W

Mr. Skeet

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the proposed European Space Agency.

Mr. Michael Heseltine

The proposal to establish a European Space Agency was agreed in principle at the meeting of the Ministerial European Space Con- ference in December 1972. European Ministers considered the progress made towards establishing the new agency at a further meeting of the European Space Conference held in Brussels last week. This meeting also reviewed the support forthcoming in Europe for three new proposed space programmes: the L3S heavy launcher, the Spacelab—as part of the United States post-Apollo programme—and a satellite for maritime communication. Since it was found that a number of countries were not yet in a position to make firm commitments to these new programmes the meeting was adjourned until 31st July.