Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Domestic Space Industry

Wednesday 15 March 2023 · 5 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 3 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The UK has invested 1.8 billion through the European Space Agency to support small companies.
  • The UK Space Agency prioritizes skills development and aims to create 380,000 jobs over the next decade.
  • The UK supports open access testing facilities for SMEs and is committed to funding spaceports in Cornwall and Scotland.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Vicky Ford Con
Northern Ireland Foreign Affairs Science & Technology
Context

The question arises from the need to support growth in the UK's space sector, which has doubled in size over the past decade.

Question

What steps her Department is taking to support the domestic space industry. As a science geek, I love this new Department. The Chelmsford-based company Teledyne e2v is the world leader in space imaging. When the earthquake hit Turkey and Syria, its technology from way up there in space pinpointed the exact location of collapsed businesses, sent rescuers to the spot and saved lives. It also provides crucial monitoring of our planet's air, oceans and volcanos via the Copernicus programme. The European Space Agency wants to continue to use e2v tech for the next generation of Copernicus satellites.

Answer from George Freeman

We have put £1.8 billion through the European Space Agency, supporting little companies here in the UK. Following the Northern Ireland protocol agreement and Windsor framework, we are actively discussing with the EU the membership of Horizon, Copernicus and Euratom, as well as funding earth observation programmes.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific question about continuing participation post-2024 was not directly addressed.

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q2 Vicky Ford Con
Education Science & Technology
Context

The growth of the UK's domestic space sector requires a skilled workforce. The question addresses how to ensure that education and training systems meet this demand.

Question

If we are to grow the sector, we need the next generation of mathematicians, scientists, engineers and computer programmers. What is he doing to ensure that the education and training system brings forward the workforce for tomorrow?

Answer from George Freeman

Skills are key, prioritised in the science and technology framework. The UK Space Agency has an active skills programme working with UKspace to set out a map of jobs being created—380,000 over the next 10 years.

Answered
Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q3 Andrew Gwynne Ind Gorton and Denton
Business & Trade
Context

The Westcott Space Cluster focuses on supporting small and medium-sized enterprises through open access testing facilities, such as those provided by the satellite applications catapult DISC.

Question

The Westcott Space Cluster in my constituency is a tour de force of innovative excellence, with a particular focus on ensuring small and medium-sized enterprises can use open access testing facilities, such as through the satellite applications catapult DISC. Does my hon. Friend agree that that open access support is essential? Will he visit Westcott to see it for himself?

Answer from George Freeman

Yes, I fully agree on the importance of open access support for SMEs. Yes, I would be very happy to visit Westcott.

Answered
Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q4 Greg Smith Con Mid Buckinghamshire
Scotland Business & Trade
Context

The HyImpulse team at SaxaFord spaceport in Shetland is preparing for a hot fire test of its new HyPLOX75 motor. The company is seeking clarity on the space flight phase 2 programme.

Question

Next month, I will be joining the team from HyImpulse at the SaxaFord spaceport in Shetland to see the hot fire test of its new HyPLOX75 motor. Like many companies in the sector, it is very keen to know when we will get an announcement regarding the space flight phase 2 programme. When will we get that announcement? If we are not going to go ahead with that programme, what will the Government be doing to encourage companies like HyImpulse to do their business in Scotland?

Answer from George Freeman

We are committed to launch in both Cornwall and Scotland. We are providing funding to support those two spaceports. I will happily come and visit when I am next up.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific announcement date for the space flight phase 2 programme was not provided.

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q5 Alistair Carmichael Lib Dem Orkney and Shetland
Science & Technology
Context

The question stems from the government's commitment to doubling the size of the domestic space sector.

Question

What steps her Department is taking to support the domestic space industry. It is a great privilege to open the batting for the new Department for Science, Innovation and Technology. Not since the white heat of technology under Harold Wilson have a Government put more money into research. We are proud to have doubled the size of the sector to £16 billion in the past 10 years.

Answer from George Freeman

Through regulatory leadership, insurance and finance in the City, £400 million in earth observation and our cluster programme, we intend to grow this economy all around the country.

Answered
Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email