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

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he is taking to allow the UK space industry to have continued access to research and development (a) funding, (b) expertise and (c) facilities currently provided at EU level after the UK leaves the EU.

As the UK prepares to leave the EU, one of the UK’s core objectives is to seek agreement to continue to collaborate with European partners on major science, research, and technology initiatives. The UK will look to build on its unique relationship with the EU and establish an agreement on science and innovation that ensures the valuable links between the UK and the EU continue to grow, supporting sectors such as the UK space industry.

The UK Government committed in August 2016 to guarantee the funding for all successful bids made by UK participants for competitively bid-for Horizon 2020 projects that are submitted before EU exit. We will work with the Commission to ensure payment when funds are awarded.

We aim to create a flexible immigration system that will support the economy when we leave the EU. The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) has been commissioned by the Home Office to consider how the UK’s immigration system works for strategically important sectors of the economy, such as the space industry.