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Select Committee · Science, Innovation and Technology Committee

UK space strategy and UK satellite infrastructure

Status: Closed Opened: 23 Apr 2021 Closed: 19 Feb 2024 35 recommendations 10 conclusions 2 reports

The UK space sector holds great potential, generating an income of £14.8 billion annually according to the Government’s Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy . Nevertheless, it has been suggested that the UK’s approach to space policy requires a rethink. Further, investment in UK lags behind that of other nations such as …

Clear

Reports

2 reports
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Seventh Report - UK space strategy and UK satellite infrast… HC 1717 14 Jul 2023 8 Responded
Second Report - UK space strategy and UK satellite infrastr… HC 100 4 Nov 2022 37 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

3 items
2 Recommendation Second Report - UK space strategy and U… Accepted in Part

Since the UK’s purchase of OneWeb, the number of shareholders has continued to grow.

Since the UK’s purchase of OneWeb, the number of shareholders has continued to grow. Although the Government has provided assurances that the proposed merger with Eutelsat will not affect the UK’s shares and involvement in OneWeb, uncertainty remains over how the continued changing ownership will affect its management. The proposed …

Government response. The government publishes the value of its OneWeb investment in the Department's Annual Report and Accounts, but does not agree that it is necessary to provide a separate yearly report. It highlighted the strategic importance of the investment, and that …
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
3 Recommendation Second Report - UK space strategy and U… Accepted in Part

We acknowledge that OneWeb could bring additional benefits to the UK if it carried out...

We acknowledge that OneWeb could bring additional benefits to the UK if it carried out satellite manufacturing for its Gen2 constellation in the UK, which would stimulate the UK space sector and create new jobs. However, where the Gen2 constellation will be manufactured is not yet confirmed. The Government must …

Government response. While not providing a separate yearly report on OneWeb, the government asserts its commitment to the UK space sector through the OneWeb investment and highlights the company's increasing UK employment. It states that the special share enables them to champion …
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
11 Recommendation Second Report - UK space strategy and U… Accepted in Part

We understand that the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is considering changes to its approach to...

We understand that the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is considering changes to its approach to setting liability caps for orbital licences, including changing to a variable liability limit approach, where liability bands are defined and the maximum value is recommended to be £50m. We believe this approach will be welcomed …

Government response. The government intends to consult in early 2023 on formal proposals on liability limits and insurance requirements for orbital operations and are aiming for implementation as soon as possible, dependent on the scope of the final methodology and insurance model(s).
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology

Oral evidence sessions

8 sessions
Date Witnesses
17 May 2023 Colin Macleod · Civil Aviation Authority, Dave Ballance · SaxaVord Spaceport, Frank Strang · SaxaVord Spaceport, George Freeman MP · Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy, Jonas Bjarnø · Orbex, Mario Kobald · HyImpulse Technologies, Rebecca Evernden · Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Rob Bishton · Civil Aviation Authority View ↗
1 Mar 2023 Dan Hart · Virgin Orbit, Ian Annett · UK Space Agency, Joshua Western · Space Forge Ltd, Melissa Quinn · Spaceport Cornwall, Patrick McCall · Space Forge Ltd, Sir Stephen Hillier CBE · Civil Aviation Authority, Tim Johnson · Aviation Environment Federation View ↗
10 Feb 2022 Dr Gillian Lang · Glasgow Science Centre, Dr Lynne O'Hare · National Manufacturing Institute Scotland, Dr Stuart Hannah · MicroPlate Dx, Elaine Gemmell · Scottish Health Innovations Ltd, Karen Watt · Scottish Funding Council, Professor Frank Coton · University of Glasgow, Professor Iain Woodhouse · University of Edinburgh, Professor Malcolm Macdonald · University of Strathclyde, Simon Andrews · Fraunhofer UK View ↗
9 Feb 2022 Dr Paul Bate · UK Space Agency, Hugo Robson · Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy, Mark Thomson · Science and Technology Facilities Council, Rebecca Evernden · Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Rt Hon Kwasi Kwarteng · Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy View ↗
12 Jan 2022 Colin Macleod · Civil Aviation Authority, Dr Hiroshi Yamakawa · Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, Dr Philippe Baptiste · Centre national d'études spatiales—French National Space and Research Centre, Josef Aschbacher · European Space Agency, Tim Johnson · Aviation Environment Federation View ↗
8 Dec 2021 Chris McLaughlin · OneWeb, Dr Hina Khan · Spire Global Limited, Jon Styles · Assimila, Professor Sir Martin Sweeting · Surrey Satellite Technologies Ltd, Yasrine Ibnyahya · Inmarsat View ↗
17 Nov 2021 Alan Thompson · Skyrora Limited, Dan Hart · Virgin Orbit, Melissa Thorpe · Spaceport Cornwall, Nicholas Smith · Lockheed Martin Space, Pete Guthrie · Space Hub Sutherland, Scott Hammond · SaxaVord Spaceport View ↗
3 Nov 2021 Lucy Edge · Satellite Applications Catapult, Professor Anu Ojha · National Space Academy, Professor David Southwood · Imperial College London, Professor Washington Yotto Ochieng · Imperial College London View ↗

Correspondence

7 letters
DateDirectionTitle
19 Apr 2023 — Correspondence from Minister of State for Department for Transport, to Chair in…
7 Sep 2022 — Correspondence from Secretary of State for BEIS relating to OneWeb merger
30 Jun 2022 — Correspondence from Science Minister George Freeman MP relating to Space Indust…
26 May 2022 — Correspondence from Rt. Hon Kwasi Kwarteng MP, Secretary of State of Business, …
27 Apr 2022 — Correspondence from the Chair to Kwasi Kwarteng MP, Secretary of State for Busi…
31 Mar 2022 — Correspondence from Kwasi Kwarteng MP, Secretary of State for Business, Energy …
23 Mar 2022 — Correspondence from the Chair to Kwasi Kwarteng MP, Secretary of State for Busi…