Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to the UK Science and Technology Framework, published on 6 March 2023, for what reasons the Framework does not reference the importance of UK (a) sovereign space and (b) satellite capabilities.

Space is a key domain of activity for the UK, and satellite technologies will benefit from and contribute to every area of the Science and Technology Framework published in March this year.

The Government is focussed on delivering the National Space Strategy, and the importance of space to the UK’s sovereign interests was reinforced this week as part of the refresh of the Integrated Review.

The space economy is worth £16.5 billion per year to the UK, and supports more than £360 billion of wider economic activity.