Source · Select Committees · Science, Innovation and Technology Committee
Recommendation 13
13
Accepted
Paragraph: 80
The Government must take steps to ensure that the CAA is appropriately resourced to meet...
Recommendation
The Government must take steps to ensure that the CAA is appropriately resourced to meet the demands of processing increasing numbers of licence applications. Quarterly review meetings should be held by the CAA and DfT to review whether the CAA’s staffing complement is sufficient and further funding should be provided by the Government to the CAA if required and in good time to allow induction and training of such staff.
Government Response Summary
Quarterly review meetings are part of the governance framework between CAA and DfT. Staffing requirements are kept under review and the CAA has continued to recruit staff since its formation in July of 2021 in order to meet its commitments.
Paragraph Reference:
80
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
Quarterly review meetings are part of the governance framework between CAA and DfT. As part of this, key performance indicators are used to evaluate both short- and long- term resourcing requirements as well as understand the efficacy of the UK regulatory framework and the wider UK space programme. There is no shortfall of financial resources identified through this process and the CAA is on track to deliver against its established budget for the FY22/23. Significant efforts were put in place between CAA, DfT and UKSA prior to the formation of the regulator in July 1 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/taskforce-on-innovation-growth-and-regulatory-reform- independent-report—recommendation 15.1 on page 124—‘Amend the Space Industry Act 2018 to cap liability and indemnity requirements for licence applicants to launch and operate satellites from the UK. 2 ‘The government is currently exploring options for amending section 12(2) of the Space Industry Act to make clear in legislation that all operator licences must specify a limit on the amount of the licensee’s liability under section 36. As set out in the guidance document ‘Guidance on insurance requirements and liabilities under the Space Industry Act 2018’ on the Civil Aviation Authority’s website, the government’s published policy is that all licences issued under the Space Industry Act 2018 contain a limit of operator liability with respect to claims made under both section 34 and section 36 of the Act. Therefore no operator faces unlimited liability. This change would provide legislative certainty on this.’ Government Response: UK space strategy and UK satellite infrastructure 9 2021, including the transfer of staff from UKSA into the CAA and access to expertise from the US FAA. Staffing requirements are kept under review and the CAA has continued to recruit staff since its formation in July of 2021 in order to meet its commitments.