§ Mr. Barry FieldTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what representations he has received concerning the funding of Ariane V projects in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. AtkinsI have received representations from a number of sources about funding of Ariane V projects in the United Kingdom.
Ariane V should provide a competitive satellite launcher in the mid-1990s to which the United Kingdom will have access. Our involvement in past Ariane development has been minor and the spin-off has not been exceptional. Launcher technology is outside the main thrust of our space strategy which is directed in the industrial field primarily at developing and exploiting the commercial potential of earth observation data.
Ariane V is an optional programme within the European Space Agency. For the United Kingdom participation is unlikely to yield returns commensurate with the heavy investment required. We have therefore decided to exercise our option not to take part in the Ariane V development programme.