Lords Committee on Space invites input from public

A House of Lords Committee examining the UK's involvement in space is inviting individuals and organisations to send written submissions as part of its inquiry.   

The Committee is cross-party with a broad remit to consider UK space policy, and the opportunities and challenges faced by the sector. Appointed on 30 January 2025, and due to report by 30 November 2025, it is keen to hear from a diverse range of individuals and organisations.   

The Committee, chaired by Baroness Ashton, encourages anyone with knowledge or expertise in the space economy to come forward and share their views, knowing that they are making a valuable contribution to this inquiry.  

It is inviting written submissions on the following issues (with further details on how to engage on the Committee's website)   

• The opportunities and challenges relating to the UK space sector, including the comparative strengths of the UK, how the sector's growth can be supported, and the potential of new space technologies. 

• The opportunities and challenges facing space-related businesses operating in the UK, including access to capital, ability to ‘scale-up', and international competition. 

• The existing international partnerships that the UK is involved in, and the potential for future partnerships with both state and commercial actors. 

• The importance of the provision of a safe operating environment in space, and how the UK can contribute to this, in particular regarding space weather and space debris. 

• The development of international space law and regulation. 

• The collaboration between academic institutions, government, and commercial space firms in the UK, including but not limited to space research and development and space spin-out and start-up firms. 

• Education and skills; in particular the skills gap in the UK space sector. 

• The future of UK space science and civil exploration. 

• The impact of space on national security and resilience.   

The deadline for submissions is 10am on Thursday 17 April. You can also follow the Committee on X @LordsUKSpaceCom, Bluesky and LinkedIn. Its full membership is here.   

The Committee has so far taken oral evidence from Professor Brian Cox and Lord Willetts, chair of the UK Space Agency, among others. At its public meeting at 3.35pm on Monday 17 March, it is hearing from space industry and security experts including senior figures from Thales Alenia Space UK, and Airbus.  All public meetings can be watched live or later here on Parliament TV.