§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Lord Privy Seal what contacts there have been between the Governments of the United States of America and the United Kingdom about the fall of debris from the space station Skylab; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. RidleyI refer the hon. Member to the reply my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister gave on 25 June to the hon. Member for Swansea, West (Mr. Williams). Her Majesty's Government have been in regular contact with the United States authorities about the reentry of the Skylab space station into the 235W earth's atmosphere. The United States authorities have provided constant information on the times and dates of re-entry.
The United States' estimates are continually being revised but at present indicates that Skylab will re-enter the earth's atmosphere today, 11 July. As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister said, the chances of any fragments of Skylab landing in Britain are statistically remote. But if there is any likelihood that debris will fall over Britain or over any other inhabited area, the United States authorities will attempt to delay the satellite's re-entry so that it falls over the ocean.
The United States Government have accepted liability for damage by debris from Skylab under the 1972 Convention on International Liability for Damage Caused by Space Objects.