Dr. ThomasTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on developments in the Horizon 2000 space project.
§ Mr. Atkins[holding answer 25 March 1988]: the Horizon 2000 space project, which was agreed by the Ministers of ESA member states in 1985 and considered again in 1987, is a space science programme spread over 20 years. It comprises four major cornerstone missions together with a number of smaller missions. Preparations are under way for the first cornerstone mission. However, the United Kingdom has not agreed to ESA proposals for increased funding for the five-year period 1990 to 1994, the programme having already benefited from a 27 per cent. increase agreed for the period 1985 to 1989. In the circumstances, some modifications to the programme as originally conceived are likely, and this is currently under consideration by ESA.