§ 26. Mr. McWilliamTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what action her Department is taking to support the programmes of the European Space Agency. [35999]
§ Mr. BattleConducting space research through ESA lies at the centre of UK space policy. On 16 March, I was very pleased to announce new commitments to ESA programmes totalling £21 million. These programmes will develop Earth observation (EO) and communication technologies. I will be discussing the Government's priorities in ESA and in space policy more generally with the UK space sector at a seminar in Leeds tomorrow.