Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent discussions he has had with the UK Space Agency on Cornwall Newquay Airport's bid to become a spaceport.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has received a recent update about Cornwall Newquay Airport’s plans to build a spaceport. We welcome the strong Cornish interest in the space sector, and the region’s recently announced Space Action Plan. Organisations like the South West Satellite Catapult Centre of Excellence and Goonhilly Earth Station will enable Cornwall to play a part in the new commercial space age.

Our Industrial Strategy recognises the role of new markets like space launch in driving growth across the UK. The UK Space Agency is delivering a major programme to enable companies to offer small satellite launch and sub-orbital spaceflight from UK spaceports. The Space Agency has considered 26 separate proposals for grant funding, that remain confidential, and will make further announcements about this in the coming months.

However, the UK Space Agency is not considering bids to become the UK’s national spaceport. Any site can still develop their plans for a UK spaceport entirely independent of government funds, and all sites will need to apply for a government licence to operate.