HC Deb 14 July 1992 vol 211 cc527-8W
Mr. Dalyell

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on the work of the Anglo-Australian near-Earth survey on asteroids.

Mr. Robert Jackson

I am replying as the AngloAustralian near-Earth survey on asteroids is a civil, rather than a defence, research project.

The aim of the survey, which is being carried out at the Anglo-Australian observatory at Siding Spring, Australia, is to identify any asteroids which could possibly strike the Earth. The survey is supported by Australian Research Council funds and uses photographs from the United Kingdom Schmidt telescope there.

In the two years that the project has been under way. no asteroids posing any significant threat have been discovered.