Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what discussions the Government has had with international partners on establishing a requirement for satellite operators to contribute towards the cost of removing debris generated by their activities.

The UK regularly discusses the technical, legal and policy challenges regarding space debris and its removal from orbit with international partners, both bilaterally and multilaterally with the European Space Agency and through forums like the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space. The government has not proposed establishing a requirement for satellite operators to contribute towards the cost of removing debris but is aware of such proposals and will continue to consider these in the relevant forums.