HC Deb 17 November 1987 vol 122 cc469-70W
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what role he now envisages for United Kingdom industry in the development of space.

Mr. Maude

Although we have decided not to go into expensive new European Space Agency programmes, this does not imply any reduction in our existing effort in space or in our existing contribution to ESA.

We are about to start discussions with industry, aimed at greater private sector involvement in the funding and planning of those aspects of space work with commercial potential. If from those discussions some well-judged

Total payments made in each regional area expressed as a percentage of total payments made nationally
Scotland Wales North East Yorkshire and Humber-side East Midlands South East South Wst West Midlands North West
Parts I, II, III of the Industrial Development Act 1982 and parts 1(2) and II of the Industrial Act 1972 26.8 17.0 22.6 7.1 2.1 2.3 2.4 1.5 18.2
Regional development grants (old scheme) *28.8 *18.1 26.3 6.1 0.9 1.8 0.5 17.5
Regional development grants (new scheme) *32.1 *16.0 19.5 9.2 4.0 2.8 16.4
Selective financial assistance under section 7 of the Industrial Development Act 1982 *27.1 *19.2 15.2 8.8 3.0 2.5 1.4 22.8
Assistance under section 8 of the Industrial Development Act 1982 7.9 4.5 3.4 12.5 9.9 25.2 7.1 13.8 15.7
The small firms loan guarantee scheme* 6.8 4.1 4.1 6.8 6.7 42.3 8.8 8.3 12.1

projects emerge which are justified, and offer value for money against all the criteria we have to apply to space projects, we will consider backing them.

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