Source · Select Committees · Scottish Affairs Committee
Recommendation 10
10
Accepted
Prioritise investment in Scottish launch sites and diversify partnerships to reduce foreign dependency.
Recommendation
The UK Government should prioritise investment in Scottish-based launch sites in order to reduce dependency on foreign providers. The Government should also diversify launch partnerships and build domestic capacity to avoid being deprioritised by foreign launch providers. (Recommendation, Paragraph 60) 40
Government Response Summary
The government supports a commercial approach to launch rather than direct ownership. It commits that the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) will work with the UK Space Agency (UKSA) to promote UK launch services internationally and will publish a space exports strategy in 2026. The Scotland Office also commits to continuing engagement with key companies, supporting supply chains, and collaborating with other government bodies to advocate for the sector.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
Department for Business and Trade to explain within six months, either in a written ministerial statement or in writing to the Committee, how it will promote international demand for Scottish launch services. Similarly, given Scotland’s competitive geographic location and capabilities, we urge the Scotland Office to play an active role in realising the ambition for Scotland to be a global leader in small satellite launch. HMG Response • Rather than the Government directly owning and managing rocket launch attempts, Government is supporting a commercial approach to building launch heritage following the US SpaceX model, i.e. enabling commercial providers to build the technical experience and learn from the first launch attempts that are most prohibitively costly and carry highest risk of failure. • While the Government is highly unlikely to provide sufficient demand to sustain the UK launch sector in and of themselves, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) supports the UK’s launch ambitions and works closely with allies and partners to assure appropriate and timely access to space. Two defence payloads were on board the Virgin Orbit launch from Spaceport Cornwall, and MoD is exploring further opportunities for harnessing the UK’s launch capabilities. • DBT already promotes the UK’s ambitions regarding launch capability in its overseas export promotion work, and regularly supports UK- based launch providers in accessing overseas markets. As the UK’s launch capability becomes fully operational, DBT will work with UKSA to further promote UK launch services to overseas customers. The Government will set out more information on its space exports strategy as part of the 2026 publication. • The Scotland Office recognises the unique opportunities for Scotland’s small satellite launch sector due to its strategic geographical position, capabilities, skilled workforce, and developing space infrastructure. The Department engages with key companies like SaxaVord, Orbex and Skyrora, and will continue to build these relationships. • The Scotland Office also works to support space supply chains. Advanced manufacturing has been identified as a priority sector for the new Industrial Strategy and will help support small satellite manufacture in Glasgow, for example. • The Scotland Office is also committed to working collaboratively with DSIT and the Scottish Government, as appropriate, to support and advocate for the sector in Scotland.