United Kingdom Space Agency

Lord Willetts Excerpts

Wednesday 27th April 2011 Written Statements

[The Minister for Universities and Science (Mr David Willetts)]

I have tasked the UK Space Agency to provide policy support to Ministers on civil space issues and to lead a civil space programme which delivers maximum economic, scientific, and policy benefits for the UK.

I have set the UK Space Agency the following targets for 2011-12:

1. Improve performance of the agency programme over the period 2011-12 to 2014-15.

2. To ensure the ESA programme brings benefit to UK industry, and the research base.

3. To initiate a national technology programme, jointly funded with industry as a means of accelerating the development of the International Space Innovation Centre.

4. Undertake an impact assessment of the Outer Space Act 1986 to develop reforms which will remove restrictions which put UK operators at a competitive disadvantage, and prepare proposals for new regulation for space vehicles to promote space tourism in the UK.

5. Work with Ofcom to support international reform at the world radio conference of the processes used to gain access to orbit satellite slots to ensure that British industry has full and fair access to them.

6. Promote wider international co-operation and have a clear export support policy, including guidance on export controls and assistance for industry.

Target measurement techniques:

Target 1: Efficiency gains in administration costs will be reflected in the budget profiles when agreed. The use of a scorecard technique across all programmes is being developed for use in 2011-12.

Target 2: Measured by the industrial return figures of ESA that reflect the work won by UK organisations against an ideal of return co-efficient of 1.

Target 3: A report showing the placement of the first tranche of contracts to the value of £10 million in 2011-12 on key technology activities in the national technology road map will be produced.

Target 4: A report showing how the changes produce a level playing field will be prepared.

Target 5: Agreement at the WRC conference in February 2012 on the way forward.

Target 6: Clear guidance available to industry by December 2012. On co-operation a report on the status of implementation of agreements with other agencies will be prepared.

The corporate plan period referred to is the financial years 2011-12 to 2014-15.