Found: to third parties are ‘as low as reasonably practicable’ (ALARP), as set out in s9(4) of the Space Industry Act

Found: Unquantifiable The Department has accepted obligations to indemnify operators under the Space Industry Act

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, for what reason (a) the number of staff and (b) and staff costs have increased at the Civil Aviation Authority since April 2017.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Since 2016, the CAA’s regulatory perimeter has expanded significantly. Following EU Exit, the CAA developed new rulemaking and regulatory oversight functions to replace those delivered by the European Aviation Safety Agency until 2020, including the creation of a UK state of design function. As a result of the Space Industry Act 2018, the CAA became the UK Space Regulator in 2021. At the same time, the CAA has grown to respond to the development of novel aviation technology (including drones, air taxis and future propulsion such as hydrogen), setting regulatory frameworks and standards to enable tomorrow’s aerospace to innovate and grow. The Future of Flight technologies have the potential to contribute up to £103 billion to the UK economy over the next 25 years.

Reflecting its strategic objectives and the government’s priorities, the CAA has created additional capacity in five areas; in economic regulation and consumer enforcement to manage increased ambition and expectations; to fulfil CAA’s expanded remit in relation to airspace modernisation; to deliver new cyber security oversight responsibilities for the aviation sector; and to deliver the CAA’s sustainability roles, including those it took on from the Independent Commission for Civil Aviation Noise; together with increases in back-office areas supporting these teams. All of this has been delivered with a focus on efficiency and efficacy, enabling increased investment in CAA services to its customers.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of satellite debris falling to earth on the environment.

Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The UK Space Agency has led global research on the potential environmental impact of satellites burning up in Earth’s atmosphere (atmospheric ablation) through a set of short, complementary research studies. Initial outcomes conclude there is an impact of metals on the atmosphere, but further research is needed to fully identify knowledge gaps and provide a solid evidence base for decision-making.

The Space Industry Act (2018) requires applicants for launch operator and spaceport licences to provide the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) with an assessment of the effects that launches of spacecraft are expected to have on the environment.

The National Space Operations Centre monitors all trackable space objects and provides indicators and warnings of re-entry and projected paths, particularly where objects are expected to have sufficient mass and volume for some or all components to survive to the surface.

Found: With the coming into force of the Space Industry Act on 29 July 2021, this act now regulates licensed

Found: With the coming into force of the Space Industry Act on 29 July 2021, this act now regulates licensed

Found: the Government evaluate the benefits and risks of merging the Outer Space Act 1986 and the Space Industry Act

Found: the Government evaluate the benefits and risks of merging the Outer Space Act 1986 and the Space Industry Act

Found: Range control services are provided under the Space Industry Act 2018 and include: co-ordinating activities

Found: Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) provides general guidance on:  applying for licences under the Space Industry Act

Found: Guidance on applying for licences Read general guidance on:  applying for licences under the Space Industry Act

Found: guidance on:  spaceport licence applicants and licensees (CAA) applying for licences under the Space Industry Act

Found: the Government evaluate the benefits and risks of merging the Outer Space Act 1986 and the Space Industry Act

Found: the Government evaluate the benefits and risks of merging the Outer Space Act 1986 and the Space Industry Act

Found: licences) • Transport (Scotland) Act 2019, Part 7 (workplace parking licensing schemes) • Space Industry Act

Found: licences) • Transport (Scotland) Act 2019, Part 7 (workplace parking licensing schemes) • Space Industry Act

Found: Range control services are provided under the Space Industry Act 2018 and include: co-ordinating activities

Found: Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) provides general guidance on:  applying for licences under the Space Industry Act

Found: Guidance on applying for licences Read general guidance on:  applying for licences under the Space Industry Act

Found: guidance on:  spaceport licence applicants and licensees (CAA) applying for licences under the Space Industry Act

Found: proposed approach to regulate rocket launch deposits under existing frameworks, whereby the Space Industry Act

Found: www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2019/17/contents), Part 7 (workplace parking licensing schemes) • Space Industry Act