§ Lord Ironsideasked Her Majesty's Government:
(i) What contributions were made to the European Space Agency (ESA) for research and development in each of the last five years;
(ii) Whether these contributions are shown in the budget of the department concerned; and
(iii) What was the total value of the contracts received from the ESA by British companies and other bodies during the same period.
§ Lord Trefgarne(i) British contributions to ESA in the years 1977–78 to 1981–82 were as follows:
£ 1977–78 39.5 1978–79 39.2 1979–80 41.3 1980–81 48.6 1981–82 61.5 (ii) These contributions are shown in the Supply Estimates of the Department of Industry and the Department of Education and Science, and in the Appropriation Accounts.
(iii) ESA estimates that the total value of contracts placed in Great Britain during the period 1977–78 to 1981–82 was £185 million.