Space Industry Skills Gap 2024-02-21
2024-02-21
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
The question is prompted by the need to address a growing skills gap in the space industry, which is critical for its growth.
What steps her Department is taking to tackle the space industry skills gap. I am concerned about ensuring we have a strong workforce to support the growth of hundreds of thousands of new jobs forecasted over the next 10 years in sectors like space and agritech.
Delivering a national space strategy is a key priority for me and the Department. I recognise that a strong space workforce is critical to this, and my hon. Friend will be pleased to know that we will be publishing a space workforce action plan later this year.
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Assessment & feedback
The answer does not provide specific actions or timelines for addressing the skills gap.
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
The question is prompted by the need to ensure that local skills improvement plans are properly aligned with job creation plans in innovation clusters.
Will he ensure that the excellent Department for Education future skills unit liaises closely with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology cluster team to make sure that we are properly building the job creation plans into the local skills improvement plans on the ground?
My hon. Friend has done so much to advance the interests of skills in the sector during his many years of public service, and he is quite right to draw attention to the successful cluster map that was launched by the Secretary of State 10 days ago.
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Assessment & feedback
The answer does not address the specific request for liaison between departments.
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
The question is prompted by the progress of the Sutherland spaceport project and the potential for local skills development.
Does the Minister agree that the skills we have at Dounreay and at the nearby Thurso College could play a large part in making this a centre of excellence for space launch?
I do agree with the hon. Gentleman. This is a very exciting moment in UK space, and he has long championed the cause of his own constituents in that respect.
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Assessment & feedback
The answer does not address the specific skills and institutions mentioned.
Response accuracy