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

To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with (1) the UK Space Agency, and (2) Shetland Islands Council about the Shetland Space Centre's proposal to locate the UK's first spaceport in Unst; and what was the outcome of those discussions.

The Government’s Spaceflight Programme will enable British spaceports to unlock a £4bn opportunity to launch small satellites. Several locations around the UK plan to operate a spaceport, which will require a licence under the Space Industry Act 2018.

In 2017, officials from the UK Space Agency met with representatives from Shetland Islands Council, alongside the Shetland Space Centre team, to hear about their plans to develop a spaceport in Unst. They agreed to speak again once the spaceport plans were more developed. UK Space Agency officials have subsequently met with the Shetland Space Centre on a number of occasions to hear about progress.