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

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the Answer of 13 November 2017 to Question 111366, what representations the Department has received from the UK space sector supply chain on the effect of the UK leaving the EU (a) Single Market and (b) Customs Union on that industry.

Since the referendum, the Government has carried out extensive and diverse engagement with hundreds of businesses of all sizes across the UK on the potential implications of our withdrawal from the EU. As part of that, I have had a range of discussions with representatives of the UK space sector on the effect of EU exit on the continued strong growth of their sector.

We remain committed to making the UK the best place in Europe to own and grow a business. That includes supporting those businesses that trade with the EU and wider international markets, as well as continuing to encourage record foreign direct investment that supports business and communities up and down the country. As part of the launch of the Government’s ambitious Industrial Strategy on Monday 27 November, the Secretary of State announced a £50 million programme to enable new satellite launch services and low gravity spaceflights from UK spaceports.