Jamie Stone MP calls for support for Sutherland Spaceport
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In questions to the Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) yesterday, Jamie Stone MP – newly appointed vice chairman of the Space All Party Parliamentary Group – asked about the UK’s space strategy.
This comes after the Melness Crofters Estate wrote a letter to the Prime Minister asking him to support the Sutherland Spaceport.
Following the exchange, Mr Stone sent a letter to the Prime Minister, copying in the new Science Minister, Amanda Solloway, and the Melness Crofters’ Estate Ltd. In the letter, Mr Stone lends his “enthusiastic support” to the crofters and their campaign to support the construction of Sutherland’s spaceport, which is also supported by the local community council.
Speaking in the House of Commons, Mr Stone said: “Local crofters in Melness support the proposal to establish a vertical space launch facility in Sutherland, and they have written to the Prime Minister to tell him that.
“Does the Secretary of State agree that that would be good for the local economy and that the UK has a huge opportunity in terms of launching satellites for other countries that do not have launch facilities?”
Responding Amanda Solloway, said: “We have united departments across Government to develop a UK space strategy, which will help the UK lead the way in this fast-growing area and create thousands of jobs across the country.
“Our space strategy will support cutting-edge space science and technologies and foster world-leading British innovation.”
Speaking after the exchange Mr Stone said: “The Melness Crofters Estate are doing a fantastic job of standing up for local people and the needs of our community.
“Having a spaceport in Sutherland will create new highly skilled job opportunities and give a boost to the local Highlands economy. How amazing for budding scientists and astronauts in our corner of the world to have a spaceport on their doorstep!
“The UK needs a new space strategy now and Sutherland should be leading the way. I shall continue to raise the profile of our spaceport at the highest levels of government.”
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