To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps her Department is taking to ensure continued funding for astronomical and space science research.

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps her Department is taking to ensure continued funding for astronomical and space science research.

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps she is taking to support research into astronomy and space science.

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps she is taking to support research into astronomy and space science.

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of the potential impact on research for astronomy and space science of the Science and Technology Facilities Council’s proposed funding cuts of up to 60%.

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of the potential impact on research for astronomy and space science of the Science and Technology Facilities Council’s proposed funding cuts of up to 60%.

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what discussions she has had with the Science and Technology Facilities Council regarding their proposed funding cuts for astronomy and space science.

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what discussions she has had with the Science and Technology Facilities Council regarding their proposed funding cuts for astronomy and space science.

A Westminster Hall debate has been scheduled for 4.30pm on 14 April on Alternatives to ground mounted solar panels. The debate will be opened by Lincoln Jopp MP.

A Westminster Hall debate has been scheduled for 4.30pm on 14 April on Alternatives to ground mounted solar panels. The debate will be opened by Lincoln Jopp MP.

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what discussions she has had with the Science and Technology Facilities Council on proposed reductions to funding for astronomy and space science; and what assessment she has made of the potential impact of such reductions on (a) the UK’s...

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what discussions she has had with the Science and Technology Facilities Council on proposed reductions to funding for astronomy and space science; and what assessment she has made of the potential impact of such reductions on (a) the UK’s...

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether she has considered which aspects of (a) AI, (b) quantum, (c) space and (d) bioengineering the UK will seek to lead in.

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether she has considered which aspects of (a) AI, (b) quantum, (c) space and (d) bioengineering the UK will seek to lead in.

My Lords, at the request of my noble friend Lord Stansgate, and with his permission, I beg leave to ask the Question standing in his name on the Order Paper.

My Lords, at the request of my noble friend Lord Stansgate, and with his permission, I beg leave to ask the Question standing in his name on the Order Paper.

My Lords, the space economy is a top priority for the Government, who have announced a £2.8 billion investment over the spending review for the UK Space Agency, including a £1.7 billion commitment at the last European Space Agency Ministerial Council. We are strategically investing to support sector growth through a new outcomes-based, targeted approach. Through a one-government philosophy, we will grow the space economy by focusing investment on enabling businesses to commercialise and scale.

My Lords, the space economy is a top priority for the Government, who have announced a £2.8 billion investment over the spending review for the UK Space Agency, including a £1.7 billion commitment at the last European Space Agency Ministerial Council. We are strategically investing to support sector growth through a new outcomes-based, targeted approach. Through a one-government philosophy, we will grow the space economy by focusing investment on enabling businesses to commercialise and scale.

I thank my noble friend the Minister for that reply. Given that, in the space inquiry we conducted, The Space Economy: Act Now or Lose Out, we identified that the space sector is worth £18.6 billion to the economy, employs 55,000 people and is growing a rate of about 6% a year, can she tell us more about the priorities across government, as space impinges on every aspect of our lives?

I thank my noble friend the Minister for that reply. Given that, in the space inquiry we conducted, The Space Economy: Act Now or Lose Out, we identified that the space sector is worth £18.6 billion to the economy, employs 55,000 people and is growing a rate of about 6% a year, can she tell us more about the priorities across government, as space impinges on every aspect of our lives?

I share the enthusiasm of my noble friend, the committee and the report for the space economy. We responded in detail to the recommendations earlier this year. We are setting out our strategic priorities, which, as the committee and my noble friend highlighted, encompassed many aspects of our lives, including defence, economic growth and support for our farming communities. We will continue to focus our spend on the priorities of economic growth and national security outcomes.

I share the enthusiasm of my noble friend, the committee and the report for the space economy. We responded in detail to the recommendations earlier this year. We are setting out our strategic priorities, which, as the committee and my noble friend highlighted, encompassed many aspects of our lives, including defence, economic growth and support for our farming communities. We will continue to focus our spend on the priorities of economic growth and national security outcomes.

My Lords, on the Government’s space plan, will they formally adopt a policy of space debris neutrality, requiring all satellites launched from the UK to have what is called a “designed to demise” commitment to prevent further orbital congestion? With an active debris removal procurement

worth some £75 million, how are the Government ensuring that UK-based SMEs are not being edged out by larger international companies for these critical domestic contracts?

My Lords, on the Government’s space plan, will they formally adopt a policy of space debris neutrality, requiring all satellites launched from the UK to have what is called a “designed to demise” commitment to prevent further orbital congestion? With an active debris removal procurement

worth some £75 million, how are the Government ensuring that UK-based SMEs are not being edged out by larger international companies for these critical domestic contracts?

The noble Lord raises the important issue of space debris, which creates risks to our critical national infrastructure. We are strengthening UK space surveillance and investing in debris mitigation technologies. We are seen as a leader in space sustainability, including with the international community and His Majesty the King. We are supporting important UK companies such as Astroscale to understand the risks and costs of active debris removal. In fact, there are further announcements today on this important issue of space debris removal.

The noble Lord raises the important issue of space debris, which creates risks to our critical national infrastructure. We are strengthening UK space surveillance and investing in debris mitigation technologies. We are seen as a leader in space sustainability, including with the international community and His Majesty the King. We are supporting important UK companies such as Astroscale to understand the risks and costs of active debris removal. In fact, there are further announcements today on this important issue of space debris removal.

Does the Minister agree that space still lacks an effective and enforceable legal framework, including liability for the space junk that has just been referred to, which is continuously being fly-tipped in space and is now blighting the few usable orbits around our planet? If so, what are HMG doing to ensure that UK expertise in law and in insurance play leading roles in making space a less lawless frontier?

Does the Minister agree that space still lacks an effective and enforceable legal framework, including liability for the space junk that has just been referred to, which is continuously being fly-tipped in space and is now blighting the few usable orbits around our planet? If so, what are HMG doing to ensure that UK expertise in law and in insurance play leading roles in making space a less lawless frontier?

The UK has a great deal of expertise on space, including on regulatory issues. We continue to collaborate internationally— for example, at the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space—to shape and uphold standards, regulations, norms and agreements on best practices to define the in-orbit regime across the globe.

The UK has a great deal of expertise on space, including on regulatory issues. We continue to collaborate internationally— for example, at the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space—to shape and uphold standards, regulations, norms and agreements on best practices to define the in-orbit regime across the globe.

The first vertical-launch spaceport to receive planning consent was at Sutherland, in the far north of Scotland. However, Orbex, the private entity in the equation, suspended construction of Sutherland’s spaceport in December 2024, with only six months to go until the infrastructure would have been completed. Given the announcement of £1.5 billion in funding for national space programmes, what progress has now been made towards supporting the completion of the spaceport, which has already attracted interest from a number of potential launch providers? At a time when sovereign launch capability is becoming increasingly important, this infrastructure is vital not only for job creation and regional regeneration but for strengthening the UK’s space and defence capabilities. Would the Minister be willing to meet with me and key stakeholders to discuss how this project might be taken forward and how the Government can support its timely delivery?

The first vertical-launch spaceport to receive planning consent was at Sutherland, in the far north of Scotland. However, Orbex, the private entity in the equation, suspended construction of Sutherland’s spaceport in December 2024, with only six months to go until the infrastructure would have been completed. Given the announcement of £1.5 billion in funding for national space programmes, what progress has now been made towards supporting the completion of the spaceport, which has already attracted interest from a number of potential launch providers? At a time when sovereign launch capability is becoming increasingly important, this infrastructure is vital not only for job creation and regional regeneration but for strengthening the UK’s space and defence capabilities. Would the Minister be willing to meet with me and key stakeholders to discuss how this project might be taken forward and how the Government can support its timely delivery?

As I set out in my speech last week, assured access to space is one of the four priorities of the Government’s space policy. As I also set out then, we are pursuing our ambition of assured access to space. Last week, I announced a further £20 million of investment over the spending review to accelerate launch from Scotland. I will be working with industry and international partners to ensure that the UK has assured launch options.

As I set out in my speech last week, assured access to space is one of the four priorities of the Government’s space policy. As I also set out then, we are pursuing our ambition of assured access to space. Last week, I announced a further £20 million of investment over the spending review to accelerate launch from Scotland. I will be working with industry and international partners to ensure that the UK has assured launch options.