MPs raise Galileo concerns
Monday, 12 Nov 2007 08:43
The Galileo satellite will be operational in 2010
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Serious concerns have been raised about the merits of the Galileo global navigation satellite system by MPs today.
The transport select committee said the government should not allow Galileo to go ahead unless a rigorous cost-benefit analysis is produced.
Galileo will consist of 30 satellites and is designed for applications such as road and rail traffic monitoring, road pricing systems and traffic control and is controlled by the civilian authorities of the European Union and European Space Agency.
It is expected to be operational in 2010.
MPs on the transport committee say the European Commission is requesting a further €2.4 billion (£1.68 billion) for the project to continue, effectively asking UK taxpayers to contribute to a spiralling bill for the project.
Committee chair Gwyneth Dunwoody said "independent and up-to-date evidence" must be produced by the government to prove that proceeding with Galileo is worthwhile.
This cost-benefit was requested by the transport committee three years ago but the current committee says this has not yet been produced.
"What taxpayers in the United Kingdom and other European countries really need and want is better railways and roads, not giant signature projects in the sky, providing services that we already have from GPS and other systems," Ms Dunwoody said.
"The government must stop this folly, and endeavour to bring the European Commission to its senses. The commission is poised to spend billions of taxpayers' money on a satellite system without any realistic assessment of its costs and benefits."
