Source · Select Committees · Scottish Affairs Committee
Recommendation 6
6
Deferred
Scotland's early lead in space launch risks being lost without stronger government support.
Recommendation
Scotland has a first mover advantage for achieving Europe’s first orbital launch. However, this early advantage is in danger of being lost, as competitors make rapid progress. If Scotland is to compete, and ultimately succeed, in the race to provide sustainable launch operations, the UK Government must realise that complacency is not an option and do everything it can to strengthen its support for and cooperation with the sector. (Conclusion, Paragraph 49)
Government response summary AI-generated
The government acknowledges the opportunity Scotland's launch sector presents and will set out its strategic approach to supporting the sector in a new cross-Government space publication scheduled for 2026.
Summary of the government's response below — read the verbatim text to verify.
Government Response
Deferred
HM Government · verbatim extract
Deferred
However, we recognise the challenges highlighted in your report, in particular around the need for a strategic and sustained commitment to the sector, bolstered by effective cross-Whitehall coordination. Following the recent Spending Review, Government intends to set out our strategic approach to supporting the Scottish launch sector as part of a cross-Government space publication, scheduled for 2026. This will provide industry with clarity and direction it needs to deliver on its potential, in support of our ambition to become a major European launching nation.
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