As the Prime Minister told the House a few weeks ago, it is the Government’s ambition for the UK to become the European hub for commercial spaceflight, and we hope to launch the competition to select the location for the base in the second half of 2016.

What progress his Department has made on identifying a location for a UK spaceport.

I am aware that the visit by Elvis is one of Prestwick’s claims to fame, but there are several other contenders in that competition. I would, of course, be delighted to visit.

It has long been believed that Prestwick airport was the only place in the UK visited by none other than Elvis. It is an area in desperate need of attention and economic investment. Will the Minister follow in the king’s footsteps and pay a flying visit to see how the Government can help regenerate that vital airport in the west of Scotland?

Q10

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Steve Double (St Austell and Newquay) (Con):

After many years of neglect under Labour, Cornwall is once again seeing investment in our roads, railways, airport and tourism. Cornwall is ambitious to diversify its economy and become a centre for the UK aerospace industry; indeed, Newquay airport is the forerunner to be the location of the UK spaceport. Will the Prime Minister please provide an update on the decision for the spaceport, and does he agree that Newquay would be the perfect place for it?

It is good that this Parliament contains such strong voices for Cornwall, speaking up for that county and ensuring that it gets the assistance, resources and help that it needs. I am a strong supporter of Newquay airport, not just as a user but because it provides the opportunity for a hub of great businesses in Cornwall. We want to become the European hub for spaceflight, which will help to attract further investment in the UK and create jobs. A number of other airports are in the running, and I wish them all well. We aim to launch the selection process next year.

The Government’s ambition is for a UK spaceport that will be an integral part of Britain’s future in space, providing a focus for regional and international investment, creating new job opportunities, supporting our existing cutting-edge technology companies, and securing UK leadership in an important emerging market.

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has studied the potential for horizontal, sub-orbital spaceplane operations from the UK https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/commercial-spaceplane-certification-and-operations-uk-government-review.

The Government’s aim now is to create the infrastructure and regulatory environment to operate these innovative technologies safely and commercially, alongside existing civilian and military users.

Following consultation on criteria identified by the CAA for locating a UK spaceport https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/spaceport-locations-and-criteria, Llanbedr Airfield, along with Campbeltown Airport, Glasgow Prestwick Airport, Newquay Cornwall Airport and Stornoway, were identified as potential locations for a permanent UK spaceport. RAF Leuchars was identified as a potential temporary facility.

The Government is now focussed on developing a technical specification of requirements to provide potential locations with clarity on the detail of what becoming a UK spaceport would involve. It is critical that we provide as much certainty as possible so that potential locations can assess whether spaceplane operations are both feasible and deliverable.

The United States is recognised as the leading nation on commercial sub-orbital spaceflight, and we are currently seeking input on our work from a number of US-based organisations. We are planning to share our work on the detailed technical requirements with all potential locations from September this year.

The Government’s ambition is for a UK spaceport that will be an integral part of Britain’s future in space, providing a focus for regional and international investment, creating new job opportunities, supporting our existing cutting-edge technology companies, and securing UK leadership in an important emerging market.

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has studied the potential for horizontal, sub-orbital spaceplane operations from the UK https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/commercial-spaceplane-certification-and-operations-uk-government-review.

The Government’s aim now is to create the infrastructure and regulatory environment to operate these innovative technologies safely and commercially, alongside existing civilian and military users.

Following consultation on criteria identified by the CAA for locating a UK spaceport https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/spaceport-locations-and-criteria, Llanbedr Airfield, along with Campbeltown Airport, Glasgow Prestwick Airport, Newquay Cornwall Airport and Stornoway, were identified as potential locations for a permanent UK spaceport. RAF Leuchars was identified as a potential temporary facility.

The Government is now focussed on developing a technical specification of requirements to provide potential locations with clarity on the detail of what becoming a UK spaceport would involve. It is critical that we provide as much certainty as possible so that potential locations can assess whether spaceplane operations are both feasible and deliverable.

The United States is recognised as the leading nation on commercial sub-orbital spaceflight, and we are currently seeking input on our work from a number of US-based organisations. We are planning to share our work on the detailed technical requirements with all potential locations from September this year.

The Government’s ambition is for a UK spaceport that will be an integral part of Britain’s future in space, providing a focus for regional and international investment, creating new job opportunities, supporting our existing cutting-edge technology companies, and securing UK leadership in an important emerging market.

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has studied the potential for horizontal, sub-orbital spaceplane operations from the UK https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/commercial-spaceplane-certification-and-operations-uk-government-review.

The Government’s aim now is to create the infrastructure and regulatory environment to operate these innovative technologies safely and commercially, alongside existing civilian and military users.

Following consultation on criteria identified by the CAA for locating a UK spaceport https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/spaceport-locations-and-criteria, Llanbedr Airfield, along with Campbeltown Airport, Glasgow Prestwick Airport, Newquay Cornwall Airport and Stornoway, were identified as potential locations for a permanent UK spaceport. RAF Leuchars was identified as a potential temporary facility.

The Government is now focussed on developing a technical specification of requirements to provide potential locations with clarity on the detail of what becoming a UK spaceport would involve. It is critical that we provide as much certainty as possible so that potential locations can assess whether spaceplane operations are both feasible and deliverable.

The United States is recognised as the leading nation on commercial sub-orbital spaceflight, and we are currently seeking input on our work from a number of US-based organisations. We are planning to share our work on the detailed technical requirements with all potential locations from September this year.

The Government’s ambition is for a UK spaceport that will be an integral part of Britain’s future in space, providing a focus for regional and international investment, creating new job opportunities, supporting our existing cutting-edge technology companies, and securing UK leadership in an important emerging market.

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has studied the potential for horizontal, sub-orbital spaceplane operations from the UK https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/commercial-spaceplane-certification-and-operations-uk-government-review.

The Government’s aim now is to create the infrastructure and regulatory environment to operate these innovative technologies safely and commercially, alongside existing civilian and military users.

Following consultation on criteria identified by the CAA for locating a UK spaceport https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/spaceport-locations-and-criteria, Llanbedr Airfield, along with Campbeltown Airport, Glasgow Prestwick Airport, Newquay Cornwall Airport and Stornoway, were identified as potential locations for a permanent UK spaceport. RAF Leuchars was identified as a potential temporary facility.

The Government is now focussed on developing a technical specification of requirements to provide potential locations with clarity on the detail of what becoming a UK spaceport would involve. It is critical that we provide as much certainty as possible so that potential locations can assess whether spaceplane operations are both feasible and deliverable.

The United States is recognised as the leading nation on commercial sub-orbital spaceflight, and we are currently seeking input on our work from a number of US-based organisations. We are planning to share our work on the detailed technical requirements with all potential locations from September this year.

The Government’s ambition is for a UK spaceport that will be an integral part of Britain’s future in space, providing a focus for regional and international investment, creating new job opportunities, supporting our existing cutting-edge technology companies, and securing UK leadership in an important emerging market.

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has studied the potential for horizontal, sub-orbital spaceplane operations from the UK https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/commercial-spaceplane-certification-and-operations-uk-government-review.

The Government’s aim now is to create the infrastructure and regulatory environment to operate these innovative technologies safely and commercially, alongside existing civilian and military users.

Following consultation on criteria identified by the CAA for locating a UK spaceport https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/spaceport-locations-and-criteria, Llanbedr Airfield, along with Campbeltown Airport, Glasgow Prestwick Airport, Newquay Cornwall Airport and Stornoway, were identified as potential locations for a permanent UK spaceport. RAF Leuchars was identified as a potential temporary facility.

The Government is now focussed on developing a technical specification of requirements to provide potential locations with clarity on the detail of what becoming a UK spaceport would involve. It is critical that we provide as much certainty as possible so that potential locations can assess whether spaceplane operations are both feasible and deliverable.

The United States is recognised as the leading nation on commercial sub-orbital spaceflight, and we are currently seeking input on our work from a number of US-based organisations. We are planning to share our work on the detailed technical requirements with all potential locations from September this year.

We are certainly looking at all the candidates in Scotland, Wales and England, and we believe that Britain will be at the forefront of the space race to get satellites into space cheaply and to introduce space tourism.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I am glad that Machrihanish is on the shortlist to become the UK’s first spaceport. It is far from any centres of population, it has a 3-km runway

and the facilities of an RAF base, and I believe that it is the ideal candidate. I hope that the Department for Transport will support Machrihanish’s case.

I met Transport and Defence Ministers yesterday to discuss progress on delivering the UK’s first space port. They are both part of the cross-governmental team taking forward the national space flight agenda. The Government have undertaken a public consultation on the eight potential locations, including Machrihanish in the hon. Gentleman’s constituency, and the criteria that will be used to select the location of a UK space port. Our response to that consultation will be published shortly.

What recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Transport on the location of the UK's first spaceport.

I assure my hon. Friend that we will be taking the first part of his advice and proceeding quickly, but it would be wrong to pre-empt the outcome of that consultation and to nominate Machrihanish from the Dispatch Box today.

I thank the Minister for that answer. A space port would be a great boost to the British economy. Machrihanish, with its 3 km runway and all the facilities of a Royal Air Force base, and being far from densely populated areas, is obviously the clear choice for the space port. I urge the Government to go on to the next phase of the decision-making process quickly and choose Machrihanish as soon as possible.