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Select Committee · Defence Committee

Space Defence

Status: Closed Opened: 27 May 2021 Closed: 11 Dec 2023 7 recommendations 8 conclusions 1 report

Space is fundamental to modern warfare and security. It is now recognised as a military domain in its own right, with space-based assets playing an essential role in supporting operations. The Committee will examine the Government’s approach to developing and protecting the UK’s defence space capabilities, and is particularly interested to receive evidence on the … Show more

Clear

Reports

1 report
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Third Report - Defence Space: through adversity to the star… HC 182 19 Oct 2022 15 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

1 item
3 Recommendation Third Report - Defence Space: through a… Rejected

Vision must be backed up with delivery, and with space set to become ever more...

Vision must be backed up with delivery, and with space set to become ever more critical to the national interest it is clear that stronger, more cohesive leadership is required. We recommend that a Minister for Space should be appointed within the Cabinet Office to provide clear centralised direction and … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government does not accept the recommendation to appoint a Minister for Space within the Cabinet Office. It states that discussions on space will be taken by the most relevant Cabinet Committee. The Minister for Science at the Department for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy …
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Ministry of Defence

Oral evidence sessions

4 sessions
Date Witnesses
8 Mar 2022 Air Vice-Marshal Harvey Smyth · Ministry of Defence, George Freeman MP · Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy, James Heappey MP · Ministry of Defence, Rebecca Evernden · Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy View ↗
14 Dec 2021 Justin T. Johnson · Meta Aerospace, Major Tim Peake CMG - British ESA Astronaut View ↗
7 Sep 2021 Anita Bernie · KISPE Space Systems Ltd, Nick Shave · UKspace, Nik Smith · UKspace, Richard Franklin · Airbus Defence and Space Ltd View ↗
13 Jul 2021 Dr Mark Hilborne · Kings College London, Dr Mark Presley · MAP Analytica View ↗

Who gave evidence

12 witnesses
WitnessOrganisationSessions
Air Vice-Marshal Harvey Smyth · Director, Space Ministry of Defence 1
Anita Bernie · Strategy and Execution KISPE Space Systems Ltd 1
Dr Mark Hilborne · Lecturer in the Defence Studies Department Kings College London 1
Dr Mark Presley · Consultant on Space Policy and Strategy MAP Analytica 1
George Freeman MP · Parliamentary Under-Secretary Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy 1
James Heappey MP · Minister for the Armed Forces Ministry of Defence 1
Justin T. Johnson · Senior Vice President Meta Aerospace 1
Major Tim Peake CMG - British ESA Astronaut — 1
Nick Shave · Chair UKspace 1
Nik Smith · Vice-Chair, Security and Defence Committee UKspace 1
Rebecca Evernden · Director for Space Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy 1
Richard Franklin · Managing Director Airbus Defence and Space Ltd 1

Correspondence

1 letter
DateDirectionTitle
11 Jan 2023 To cttee Letter from NAO to Chair regarding HCDC inquiry on Space Defence with outbound …