§ Mr. ÖpikTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will evaluate the reports concerning an asteroid on a near-collision course with the Earth; and if he will make a statement; [34873]
(2) what contingency plans have been made in the event of a threat arising from asteroids colliding with the Earth; and if he will make a statement; [34874]
(3) what provision exists for international consultation and co-operation over potential dangers arising from asteroids striking the Earth; and if he will make a statement. [34875]
§ Mr. BattleI have been asked to reply.
The asteroid 1997 XF11, which was discovered last year, has an orbit around the Sun which crosses the Earth's orbit. It will pass by the Earth in 2028. Computations made by American scientists earlier this month indicated that the asteroid could come within 30,000 miles of the Earth. However, I understand that scientists from the American space agency NASA have now been able to locate pre-1997 images of the asteroid. This has enabled them to calculate a more precise orbit for 1997 XF11 which indicates that it will Miss the Earth by a much larger margin of 600,00 miles (or about 2.5 times the distance to the Moon).
The probability of a major impact from an asteroid is extremely low, but the emergency services and the emergency planning community in the UK prepare for a wide range of disasters and scenarios and they would respond if the need arose.
International co-operation and consultation on this issue are taken forward in Europe through the European Space Agency and globally through the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNCOPUOS). The UK is involved in both.