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Written question asked by Brendan O'Hara (Scottish National Party) on Monday, 29 February 2016, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 2 March 2016. It was answered by Robert Goodwill (Conservative) on Tuesday, 8 March 2016 on behalf of the Department for Transport.

Spaceflight

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how soon after publication of the requirements for the second round of consideration of locations for a UK spaceport the Government expects to be able to announce the selected location.

Answer

The 2014 Government Spaceplane Review provided the groundwork for enabling spaceplane operations from the UK, including identifying key criteria for locating a UK spaceport, and identifying potential locations based on these. The Government tested the conclusions of this review through consultation and published its response in March 2015. This confirmed Campbeltown, Glasgow Prestwick and Stornoway in Scotland, Llanbedr Airfield in Wales and Newquay in England as potential spaceport locations.

Further information on the Spaceplane review and the Government consultation can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/spaceport-locations-and-criteria

Commercial spaceflight is a complex, international, and evolving market. The Government is considering a range of options on next steps that would best deliver our ambition of a spaceport, and the supporting regulatory environment for spaceflight, within this Parliament.

The Government is in discussion with the US Government on ITAR-related issues. However, ITAR applications are not a factor at this stage for potential spaceport locations but may become so if a US spaceplane operator seeks to operate from the UK.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
28860
Session
2015-16
Grouped for answer
Yes
Subjects
Location Spaceflight
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk