§ Lord Kennetasked Her Majesty's Government:
What are the present arrangements for space use management and planning, given reports in Aviation Week passim that more than 1,000 satellites are to be put in low earth orbit between now and the year 2001 and the presence in orbit of vehicles and debris, which are a hazard to other users of space.
§ The Minister of State, Department of Trade and Industry (Lord Fraser of Carmyllie)The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) is currently responsible for space use management, through the co-ordination of satellite orbits and guidelines on the reorbiting of satellites at the end of their life. The ITU is supported in its role by the Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee which provides technical advice on space debris. The United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UN COPUOS) is carrying out a multi-year work plan to investigate future access to space in light of the current low earth orbit satellite constellations and the growth of space debris. The UK encourages and supports these efforts.