§ Mr. WrayTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (I) what measures have been introduced since 1997 to assist the British National Space Centre and the European Space Programme; [32526]
(2) if she will make a statement on the British National Space Centre and its latest projects [32524]
§ Ms HewittMy noble Friend the Minister for Science and Innovation, announced on 15 November 2001 that the United Kingdom had subscribed £380 million over the next 10 years to the space-related research programmes of the European Space Agency. Details of this and other major announcements since 1997 by the British National Space Centre in relation to the European Space Agency are listed in the table.
649W
Date of announcement Financial commitment in £million Programmes April 1998 £2 General Support Technology Programme £2 ARTES 4 (satellite telecommunications) £0.5 SMART 1 (technology research) March 1998 £6.7 over three years ARTES 3 (satellite telecommunications) £8.1 over two years ERS 2 operations (earth observation) £6.4 over five years Earth Observation preparatory programme
§ Mr. WrayTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent meetings she has had with European colleagues on space research and exploration. [32525]
§ Ms HewittIn recent months I have not attended any meetings with European colleagues at which space research and exploration was specifically discussed. However, my noble Friend the Minister for Science and Innovation attended the Ministerial Council of the European Space Agency on 14–15 November 2001, which the United Kingdom hosted in Edinburgh. At this meeting it was agreed the UK would subscribe to the study phase of a potential European programme for exploration of the solar system, the Aurora programme. The Minister also attended the October Research Council which discussed the Global Monitoring for Environment and Security initiative, and the December Research Council where some conclusions on space policy were adopted. More recently he attended a bilateral with the Spanish Science Minister at which the subject of the European global satellite navigation system (Galileo) was raised.