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

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Government's £60 million investment in the development of an aerospace engine by Reaction Engines Limited; and whether further investment is planned.

The Government’s investment is being used by Reaction Engines Limited to fund the development of their aerospace engine – SABRE (Synergetic Air-Breathing Rocket Engine). Progress is monitored closely by the UK Space Agency and the project is on schedule for testing of the core engine technology in 2020.

Confidence in the technology has grown through the £60 million investment from Government, together with the substantial technical progress. This has directly led to Reaction Engines Limited recently securing additional investment from major aerospace companies and financial organisations. No decisions have been made concerning any potential further investment by the Government.