Joseph Johnson corrected a written answer on Space Technology

27 November 2017 · Commons written answer · Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Dr Philippa Whitford (Scottish National Party, Central Ayrshire) asked written question 112281 on 10 November 2017. Joseph Johnson answered on 22 November 2017 for the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, and Joseph Johnson corrected the answer on 27 November 2017. The corrected text no longer gives the figures 2.4, £12.5 billion, £2.3 billion, £80 billion. Altogether 315 words differ between the two versions.

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether his Department supports the development of a domestic UK satellite launch capability.

Original and corrected answer

Struck through: original only. Bold: correction only.

Original	Corrected
~~This~~ Government ~~wants~~ the UK ~~to be~~ the ~~go-to place~~ for ~~researchers, innovators~~ and investors across the world. We have made a landmark commitment to work with industry to boost spending on Research and Development (R&D) to 2.4% of gross domestic product (GDP) by 2027. The work could increase public and private R&D investment by as much as £80 billion over the next 10 years. This will start with government making an extra investment of £2.3 billion in 2021/22, raising total public investment in R&D to £12.5 billion that year alone. As part of our ambition for a new deep and special partnership with the EU, recognising our shared interest in maintaining and strengthening research collaboration, the UK will seek an agreement that promotes science and innovation across Europe now and in the future. This includes continued collaboration in vital sectors such as life sciences that, through programmes such as the Innovative Medicines Initiative, help deliver better care for patients in the UK, ~~member states~~ and ~~around~~ the ~~world.~~ ~~While we remain a member of~~ the EU, UK businesses and universities should continue to bid for competitive EU funds, and we will work with the Commission to ensure payment when funds are awarded. The Government will underwrite the payment of such awards, even when specific projects continue beyond the UK’s departure from the ~~EU. This includes awards that are bid for before exit that are successful after exit.~~	The Government has an exciting ambition to take the UK into the commercial space age. We are actively supporting the development of a commercial market for small satellite launch and sub-orbital flight in the UK, by helping industry to develop new technologies, infrastructure and services. This will establish the UK as a world leading destination for space launch. We are putting in place new regulation, working internationally to secure agreements and evaluating proposals for grants that would help get the first missions from the UK off the ground. We welcome engagement from any company seeking to offer small satellite launch capability from a UK spaceport.

Original

Corrected

~~This~~ Government ~~wants~~ the UK ~~to be~~ the ~~go-to place~~ for ~~researchers, innovators~~ and investors across the world. We have made a landmark commitment to work with industry to boost spending on Research and Development (R&D) to 2.4% of gross domestic product (GDP) by 2027. The work could increase public and private R&D investment by as much as £80 billion over the next 10 years. This will start with government making an extra investment of £2.3 billion in 2021/22, raising total public investment in R&D to £12.5 billion that year alone.
As part of our ambition for a new deep and special partnership with the EU, recognising our shared interest in maintaining and strengthening research collaboration, the UK will seek an agreement that promotes science and innovation across Europe now and in the future. This includes continued collaboration in vital sectors such as life sciences that, through programmes such as the Innovative Medicines Initiative, help deliver better care for patients in the UK, ~~member states~~ and ~~around~~ the ~~world.~~
~~While we remain a member of~~ the EU, UK businesses and universities should continue to bid for competitive EU funds, and we will work with the Commission to ensure payment when funds are awarded. The Government will underwrite the payment of such awards, even when specific projects continue beyond the UK’s departure from the ~~EU. This includes awards that are bid for before exit that are successful after exit.~~

The Government has an exciting ambition to take the UK into the commercial space age. We are actively supporting the development of a commercial market for small satellite launch and sub-orbital flight in the UK, by helping industry to develop new technologies, infrastructure and services. This will establish the UK as a world leading destination for space launch.
We are putting in place new regulation, working internationally to secure agreements and evaluating proposals for grants that would help get the first missions from the UK off the ground.
We welcome engagement from any company seeking to offer small satellite launch capability from a UK spaceport.

The question and answer on the Parliament website.

Receipt

Read from	https://questions-statements-api.parliament.uk/api/writtenquestions/questions/786843?expandMember=true
Date read	15 October 2026
SHA-256	`e58f65ec0d2a89f02fe7ed898f799daa4103abbba0937b4274258875ea63fb13`