Source · Select Committees · Scottish Affairs Committee
2nd Report - Scotland’s space sector follow-up: launch
Scottish Affairs Committee
HC 671
Published 10 September 2025
Recommendations
7
Accepted
Multiple UK and European spaceports can thrive through diverse networks and international cooperation.
Recommendation
There is enough custom for space launch services—both within Europe and globally—to sustain multiple spaceports across the UK and Europe. We therefore do not consider UK spaceports and Andøya to be existential threats to one another, but rather as facilities …
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Government Response Summary
The government states it is continuing to develop international engagement, including active participation in ESA and NATO STARLIFT programmes, to ensure resilient access to space. It outlines ongoing bilateral and multilateral engagements with various nations to promote collaboration and strengthen the UK space sector.
Scotland Office
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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) …
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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.
Scotland Office
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13
Accepted
UK's long-term space ambitions require deepened international partnerships with European institutions
Recommendation
While Scotland has great potential to be part of a sovereign launch nation and a collaborative European partner, it is increasingly clear that space ambitions cannot be fully fulfilled in isolation. We are pleased to see that space has been …
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Government Response Summary
The government states it is already developing and deepening international engagement, including with European partners, through various programs and bilateral agreements to strengthen cooperation and resilience.
Scotland Office
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14
Accepted
Set out how UK Government is deepening international partnerships for assured space access
Recommendation
In its response to this report, the UK Government should set out how it is actively pursuing and deepening international partnerships— particularly with European nations and institutions such as the European Space Agency—to ensure resilient and assured access to space. …
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Government Response Summary
The government states it is actively pursuing and deepening international partnerships, including with European nations and institutions like ESA, through active participation in programmes such as ESA Space Transportation and NATO STARLIFT. It details ongoing bilateral and multilateral engagements to strengthen collaboration and ensure resilient access to space.
Scotland Office
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17
Accepted
Space sector prioritisation requires long-term strategic investment aligned with national strategies
Recommendation
The sector’s prioritisation within the Industrial Strategy, must be underpinned by a long-term and strategic approach to investment in the sector, which is also aligned with the objectives of the National Space Strategy and Defence Space Strategy. Such an approach …
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Government Response Summary
The government accepts the need for long-term strategic investment and outlines efforts to formalise a 'one-government' capabilities-led approach to space investments. It commits to publishing costed plans in 2026, which will detail government priorities over the spending review period.
Scotland Office
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Conclusions (1)
9
Conclusion
Accepted
The current geopolitical climate demonstrates the importance of supporting and securing sovereign space capacity—particularly through responsive and defence ready infrastructure—if not, its ability to protect national and European security interests could be severely compromised. (Conclusion, Paragraph 59)
Government Response Summary
The government recognizes the importance of domestic launch capability for national security and resilience, highlighting significant past and ongoing investments in Scottish spaceports and launch companies.