Commons Sense

House of Commons · Public Bill Committee

Space Industry (Indemnities) Bill - Sitting 1

08 May 2024

Proposed by Philip Davies Con Shipley

Business & Trade

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

At a glance

Key points

  • The Space Industry (Indnities) Bill aims to provide legal certainty for commercial operators by setting a limit on their liability for launching or operating satellites in UK territory.
  • Jonathan Lord argues that the Bill will enhance legal certainty for companies involved in space activities, boosting investor confidence.
  • Lord highlights the importance of aligning with international standards to support the growth of the UK space sector.

Issue summary

The statement discusses the Space Industry (Indemnities) Bill, which aims to provide legal certainty for commercial operators by setting a limit on their liability when launching or operating satellites in UK territory. The Space Industry (Indemnities) Bill is being discussed in the Public Bill Committee, aiming to make minor adjustments to existing legislation to enable commercial spaceflight operations.

Action requested

Jonathan Lord presents and supports the Bill, arguing that it will enhance legal certainty for companies involved in space activities, thereby boosting investor confidence and potentially growing the industry's economic contribution by £10 billion over several years. He highlights the importance of aligning with international standards and providing support to the burgeoning UK space sector.

Key facts

  • The Bill aims to amend section 12(2) of the Space Industry Act 2018.
  • The UK space sector is worth £17.5 billion, directly employing over 48,000 people and supporting 126,000 jobs in the supply chain.
  • Virgin Orbit conducted a historic first launch from UK soil at Spaceport Cornwall last year.
  • SaxaVord spaceport in Shetland Islands became the UK’s first licensed vertical-launch spaceport in December.
  • The Space Industry Act 2018 is being amended.
  • The Bill aims to enable commercial decisions for satellite launches and intercontinental travel.
  • 48,000 people are currently employed in the UK space industry.
  • For standard orbital missions, a flat-rate liability limit of £51 million applies.
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