§ Mr. Llew SmithTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what support will be given by the European Space Agency to the international initiative to use new and existing satellites to monitor global changes in the environment, following the meeting in Cambridge in April.
§ Mr. Leigh[holding answer 11 May 1992]: The meeting, which took place in London on 28 and 29 April at the initiative of the British Government, was of countries and organisations involved in the provision and use of earth observation satellite data for environmental purposes. It discussed possible elements of an initiative aimed at making the best use of this data. The European Space Agency (ESA), which participated in the meeting, will play a full part and has a well-established earth observation programme to support such an initiative. The elements of ESA's programme are the first European remote-sensing satellite (ERS1), now in orbit, the ERS2 satellite, due to be launched in 1994, and two future missions: POEM1, for which preparatory work is already under way, and POEM2, which is being planned. At the same time systems for receiving, processing and disseminating data from these satellites are being developed. The United Kingdom will continue to play a significant role in these programmes.
Nuclear Power Stations
§ 53. Mr. David PorterTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement about progress on planning for the construction of Sizewell C nuclear station in Suffolk.
§ Mr. Eggar[holding answer 12 May 1992]: No decisions about the construction of new nuclear stations beyond Sizewell B will be made before the Government review the prospects for nuclear power in 1994.
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§ 55. Mr. David PorterTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make it his policy to bring forward the national review of the nuclear energy supply programme before 1994; and if he will make a statement on the future of nuclear power stations.
§ Mr. Eggar[holding answer 12 May 1992]: The Government have no plans to bring forward the 1994 review and no decisions about the construction of new nuclear stations beyond Sizewell B will be made before 1994. Nuclear Electric will continue to run its existing stations as efficiently, economically and safely as possible and to build Sizewell B to time and cost.