Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to page 34 of the National Space Strategy, published in September 2021, what steps her Department is taking to ensure robust controls on downstream activities that could potentially be used to support military operations of concern.

The UK seeks to prevent the proliferation of military and dual-use technologies that risk being misused in space through a robust system of export controls.

We rigorously assess every export licence application on a case-by-case basis against the Strategic Export Licensing Criteria (the Criteria). We draw on all available information, including reports from NGOs and our overseas network, ensuring that UK exports are consistent with our national and international obligations and standards.

We will not grant an export licence where to do so would be inconsistent with the Criteria.