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

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether the UK Armed Forces will be able to access the proposed Global Navigation Satellite System.

Global Satellite Navigation Systems have a very wide range of uses and all of the current systems have clear civil, security and defence utility. The UK GNSS would offer additional capabilities for use by the Government including by the Ministry of Defence.

The UK Space Agency is leading the Engineering Design and Development Phase announced by my rt. hon. Friend the Prime Minister in August with the full support of the Ministry of Defence. This phase will develop plans for a possible UK system.