Graham Leadbitter

Graham Leadbitter

Scottish National Party — Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey

Speaking in the House of Commons on 4 September 2024

Debate

Space Sector: Government Support

Contribution

My constituency has close links to Shetland when it comes to space, with the SaxaVord spaceport company headquartered in Grantown-on-Spey. I also have Orbex, with 130-plus employees in Forres, which is manufacturing rockets and will soon conduct launches in Sutherland. We know that for those companies, developing launch and manufacturing capability there is a significant capital expenditure in research and development. Does the right hon. Gentleman agree that it is vital that private investment is underpinned by easily accessible and, importantly, repayable state support, which needs to be reasonably substantial to get the venture to the point of commercial viability?

More from Graham Leadbitter

Other recent Hansard contributions by the same speaker.

About Hansard

Hansard is the official verbatim record of proceedings in the UK Parliament. Every word spoken in the Commons and Lords is recorded and published — this page is a single contribution from that record.

For Graham Leadbitter's full parliamentary record including voting history, expenses and all other contributions, see the Graham Leadbitter report card.