The space sector offers opportunities to all our constituents. The defence industrial strategy is an opportunity to create and support activities based in STEM—science, technology, engineering and mathematics—particularly in relation to space. Does my hon. Friend agree that my industrial strategy submission would be a worthy read for all Members...

The space sector offers opportunities to all our constituents. The defence industrial strategy is an opportunity to create and support activities based in STEM—science, technology, engineering and mathematics—particularly in relation to space. Does my hon. Friend agree that my industrial strategy submission would be a worthy read for all Members...

I obviously have not read my hon. Friend’s submission, but if he wants to send it to me I would very much welcome reading it.

The supply chain of the space sector is vast and diverse, as my hon. Friend has just alluded to, with almost 2,900 suppliers nationwide, half of...

I obviously have not read my hon. Friend’s submission, but if he wants to send it to me I would very much welcome reading it.

The supply chain of the space sector is vast and diverse, as my hon. Friend has just alluded to, with almost 2,900 suppliers nationwide, half of...

What fun we have had. We could have proper jobs, but instead we are talking about space industries and debating their importance. I recognise the ambition of the last Government; when deciding which Department should monitor space industries, one might have thought it would be the Department for Science, Innovation...

What fun we have had. We could have proper jobs, but instead we are talking about space industries and debating their importance. I recognise the ambition of the last Government; when deciding which Department should monitor space industries, one might have thought it would be the Department for Science, Innovation...

I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Glasgow East (John Grady) for bringing this short but crucial Bill before the House. I commend him for delivering such a brilliant and informative speech and for managing to cling on for as long as he did; some would call him the...

I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Glasgow East (John Grady) for bringing this short but crucial Bill before the House. I commend him for delivering such a brilliant and informative speech and for managing to cling on for as long as he did; some would call him the...

My Lords, missile defence is a critical thread in our tapestry of national security. The threats we face, highlighted by Russia’s reckless targeting of Dnipro with a ballistic missile, underline the need to be prepared. We test and train regularly with our allies, and our next missile defence testing and...

My Lords, missile defence is a critical thread in our tapestry of national security. The threats we face, highlighted by Russia’s reckless targeting of Dnipro with a ballistic missile, underline the need to be prepared. We test and train regularly with our allies, and our next missile defence testing and...

My Lords, first I associate myself with the sentiments expressed by the noble Baroness, Lady Smith, with reference to her friend and colleague Baroness Randerson.

If the noble Baroness, Lady Smith, comes to this cold, I come to the issue out of the deep freeze, but let me do my best....

My Lords, first I associate myself with the sentiments expressed by the noble Baroness, Lady Smith, with reference to her friend and colleague Baroness Randerson.

If the noble Baroness, Lady Smith, comes to this cold, I come to the issue out of the deep freeze, but let me do my best....

I thank noble Lords for those very thoughtful questions, which covered quite a range of activities. I ask them to give me a moment to gather my thoughts.

I thank the noble Baroness, Lady Smith, for her comments about Baroness Randerson. It is my great privilege that the last meeting that...

I thank noble Lords for those very thoughtful questions, which covered quite a range of activities. I ask them to give me a moment to gather my thoughts.

I thank the noble Baroness, Lady Smith, for her comments about Baroness Randerson. It is my great privilege that the last meeting that...

To ask His Majesty's Government what contribution they are making to human spaceflight, what assessment they have made of whether the UK should establish its own human space flight programme, and what estimate they have made of when a British mission will visit the moon and Mars.

To ask His Majesty's Government what contribution they are making to human spaceflight, what assessment they have made of whether the UK should establish its own human space flight programme, and what estimate they have made of when a British mission will visit the moon and Mars.

My Lords, it would be easy simply to stand up and thank the Minister for introducing this statutory instrument clearly, and it goes without saying that it should have the support of the opposition parties, in particular for the reasons that she outlined at the end—to demonstrate that we stand...

My Lords, it would be easy simply to stand up and thank the Minister for introducing this statutory instrument clearly, and it goes without saying that it should have the support of the opposition parties, in particular for the reasons that she outlined at the end—to demonstrate that we stand...

Lords motion to consider. Agreed to on question.

Lords motion to consider. Agreed to on question.

Yesterday’s meeting of the Scottish Affairs Committee took some interesting and informative evidence from representatives of the space industry in the UK. The launch of the first commercial space rocket from SaxaVord spaceport in Shetland is likely to take place before the end of the year. The industry has potentially...

Yesterday’s meeting of the Scottish Affairs Committee took some interesting and informative evidence from representatives of the space industry in the UK. The launch of the first commercial space rocket from SaxaVord spaceport in Shetland is likely to take place before the end of the year. The industry has potentially...

My hon. Friend is absolutely right; space has transformed in strategic importance over the past decade. The Minister for Science, Research and Innovation has responsibility for co-ordinating space policy right across Government, and I know that he will be putting rocket boosters under this policy area in the future.

My hon. Friend is absolutely right; space has transformed in strategic importance over the past decade. The Minister for Science, Research and Innovation has responsibility for co-ordinating space policy right across Government, and I know that he will be putting rocket boosters under this policy area in the future.

Motion to consider. Agreed to on question.

Motion to consider. Agreed to on question.

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, how many British citizens are undertaking training for future manned space flights.

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, how many British citizens are undertaking training for future manned space flights.

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether he plans to visit the SaxaVord Spaceport in 2024.

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether he plans to visit the SaxaVord Spaceport in 2024.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how much official development assistance was provided to countries that have a space agency with launch capabilities in the last financial year; and how much he plans to provide to those countries this financial year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how much official development assistance was provided to countries that have a space agency with launch capabilities in the last financial year; and how much he plans to provide to those countries this financial year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if he will take steps to support extravehicular activity on UK private space flight missions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if he will take steps to support extravehicular activity on UK private space flight missions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what his planned timetable is for the next launch from a UK spaceport.

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what his planned timetable is for the next launch from a UK spaceport.