Written question asked by Lembit Opik (Liberal Democrat) on Wednesday, 11 February 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 2 March 2004. It was answered by Patricia Hewitt (Labour) on Tuesday, 2 March 2004 on behalf of the Department of Trade and Industry.

Dept of Trade and Industry

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will maintain the level of service provided by the (a) National Near Earth Object Information Centre and (b) the Spaceguard Centre.

Answer: Lembit Opik: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will maintain the level of service provided by the (a) National Near Earth Object Information Centre and (b) the Spaceguard Centre. [155368] Ms Hewitt: The British National Space Centre (BNSC) has contributed funding to the setting up and maintenance of the Near Earth Object (NEO) Information Centre based at the National Space Science Centre in Leicester. It provides information to the public and monitors NEO activity. This follows the recommendations of the Near Earth Object Task Force Report. The BNSC contract expires on 31 December 2004. The Government has not contributed funding to the Space Guard Centre in the UK.

Secondary information