HL Deb 09 October 1989 vol 511 c131WA
Lord Kennet

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is their attitude to the call from the Soviet Union for the demilitarisation of outer space and the establishment of a world space organisation under the aegis of the United Nations.

Lord Trefgarne

Space can be used for a variety of military purposes which add to, rather than detract from, stability: it is not, therefore, realistic to call for the demilitarisation of space. The value of a world space organisation is unclear: there are already a number of agreements relating to outer space which place restrictions on how it can be used, and the United Nations is already involved in international space co-operation through the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space.