Space Technology: Finance
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, with reference to the UK Space Agency press release entitled UK invests in homegrown space tech to boost national resilience, published on 20 July 2026, what recent assessment he has made of the potential impact of the funding on the level of national resilience.
Answered by Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade
Government resilience and sovereignty, and supply chain resilience are strategic benefits to the UK identified in the Connectivity in Low Earth Orbit programme Business Case. A mid-programme Business Case review in early 2026 determined the programme should be extended by 2 years. The review reaffirmed the programme's strategic case and positive economic case, including strengthening UK capability in satellite communications, supporting innovation and supply chain development, and enhancing the UK's resilience.
Early evidence indicates that C-LEO is beginning to realise intended benefits through the delivery of funded projects, growth in UK capability, stronger market intelligence, enhanced cross-government collaboration and increased investment in the UK satellite communications ecosystem.
Over the longer term, the programme is expected to deliver significant economic growth, support around 2,000 skilled jobs, strengthen UK supply chains, improve national resilience and sovereign capability, and enhance the UK's global competitiveness in the rapidly growing LEO communications market.
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