§ Mr. Bishopasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has for a United Kingdom contribution to the development of post-Apollo projects.
§ Mr. Michael HeseltineI have no plans for a United Kingdom contribution beyond that of 6.3 per cent. towards the cost of the European development of a space laboratory for use with the United States space shuttle.
§ Mr. Bishopasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions he has had with members of SBAC regarding future aerospace projects.
218W
§ Mr. Michael HeseltineI am in regular touch with the aerospace industry on a wide variety of topics, including possible future projects. I have no firm proposals for any new major projects under consideration at present.
§ Mr. Bishopasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent discussions he has had regarding maritime navigation and communications satellites ; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Michael HeseltineAt the European Space Conference of July 1973 the United Kingdom agreed to participate, with a majority contribution, in the development of an experimental maritime communications satellite known as MAROTS. This project is now going ahead under the auspices of the European Space Research Organisation (to be replaced by the European Space Agency) with launch expected in 1977.
§ Mr. Bishopasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will give the respective annual amounts being spent by European countries on space projects, and set out on what aspects the United Kingdom contribution is to be spent, including any portion on launchers.
§ Mr. Michael HeseltineDuring 1973 estimated expenditure on European space projects was as follows:
£ million European Space Research Organisation (ESRO) European Launcher Development Organisation (ELDO) United Kingdom 8.0 — West Germany 12.3 11.2 France 10.7 9.9 Italy 6.4 0.1 Netherlands 1.6 0.1 Belgium 1.8 0.7 Sweden 1.9 — Switzerland 1.4 — Denmark 1.0 — Spain 1.0 —