§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what consultations he intends to have with the Science and Engineering Research Council about the annual 5 per cent. rise which he agreed should be contributed to the European Space Agency's mandatory science budget between 1985 and 1990.
§ Mr. PattieI agreed to this increase in the European Space Agency's mandatory science budget on behalf of the Government at the successful ministerial Council of the agency on 30 and 31 January. This followed full consultations with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science and with the Chairman of the Science and Engineering Research Council, both of whom were represented in the United Kingdom delegation. This Department and the SERC continue to maintain regular contact in order to ensure that the Government pursues consistent and effective policies in all the activities of the Agency.