The focus of this inquiry, by the Science and Technology Committee, was the support by the UK Government for the Beagle 2 project developed as part of the European Space Agency's (ESA) Mars Express mission. The Committee found the Government showed enthusiasm for this project, but was unable to provide a guaranteed financial backing for the development of a lander, resulting in a failure to secure sufficient sponsorship income, which was subsequently seen to have a detrimental impact on the project's success. The Committee feels, that Government needs to put in place a system that can deal with major financial commitments at short notice. In hindsight, the development of the lander and orbiter separately is seen as wrong, impeding the flexible co-ordination of the mission, leading to tensions between the Beagle 2 consortium, ESA and other contractors. Further, there was a lack of co-ordinated oversight between these three groups, and therefore a failure to identify important weaknesses in the mission. Despite the failure of Beagle, the Committee does see some positive potential for future projects, both in scientific and educational benefits, but that the costs of such projects would benefit from greater participation by other organizations.

Bovine TB is a disease which not only brings suffering to animals but also adversely affects farmers in economic and other terms, and has been, at least until very recently, a growing problem in the UK. The Committee's report examines measures which might form an alternative response to the problem besides the option of culling badgers. It considers developments in the vaccination of cattle and badgers; the gamma interferon test; husbandry; trace elements; and the lessons to be learnt from Ireland. The Committee concludes that a decision about culling badgers must await the outcome of the Randomised Badger Culling Trial, but a number of steps could be taken in the meantime, including testing vaccination in badgers; that farmers could be paid incentives to recruit them to the current gamma interferon field trial; and more resources should be concentrated on research into cattle vaccines. The Committee also recommends that farmers take note of ministerial comments on following best practice in good animal husbandry.