Written question asked by Andrew Snowden (Conservative) on Friday, 28 August 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 2 September 2026. It was answered by Chris McDonald (Labour) on Tuesday, 8 September 2026 on behalf of the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade.

Satellite Communications: Cost Effectiveness

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what assessment he has made of the value for money of the C-LEO Programme.

Answer: A value for money assessment of the Connectivity in Low Earth Orbit (C-LEO) programme is a key part of the Programme’s Business Case and included a combination of quantitative Cost Benefit Analysis metrics, qualitative impacts, and assessment of strategic alignment. A mid-programme Business Case review in early 2026 determined that the C-LEO programme should be extended by 2 years as the best value for money offering a significant return on investment, supporting the space sector, creating jobs, and generating growth.

Secondary information