§ Dr. HampsonTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what payments have been made to British Telecom International from the British National Space Centre budget; and for what purpose.
§ Mr. AtkinsNone, except for services purchased on a commercial basis. However, under arrangements instituted at the time of formation of Eutelsat in 1978, the BNSC shares the United Kingdom subscription to that 403W body with British Telecom International. The BNSC payments, which are made through the European Space Agency, have so far amounted to £7.99 million.
§ Dr. HampsonTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the value of the activity undertaken by the United Kingdom space industry as a direct output of the British National Space Centre civil space budget for the financial years 1988–89 and 1989–90, excluding the value of sub-contracts placed outside the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. AtkinsSpace expenditure falls to the budgets of the individual Departments and research councils who are partners in the BNSC. Their total contributions to the European Space Agency's programmes are estimated at £90 million in 1988–89 and £82 million in 1989–90. Some 80 per cent. of these contributions will, in accordance with ESA rules, return to United Kingdom industry in the form of contracts. In addition, the national programmes of BNSC partners amount to about £50 million per year. These include expenditure on space science in universities and research institutes. The proportion spent in industry is between 40 and 50 per cent.