Scrapping UK space agency risks undermining growth in critical sector, warns Prospect

 
Responding to the announcement that the UK Space Agency will be scrapped to cut costs, Prospect General Secretary Mike Clancy said:
 
“The Government rightly recognises in its industrial strategy that space is a frontier sector critical to future growth. The UK Space sector is an economic success story and the UK Space Agency has played a key role in that.
 
“There is a real risk that abolishing the Agency sends the wrong signals about the Government’s ambition for the sector, and leads to a loss of specialist knowledge and skills.
 
“It is important that the Government is clear about the rationale for this move, and how they plan to ensure that the space sector does not lose out as a result. We must not be left in a situation where Britain’s most productive sectors are being hamstrung in order to save tiny amounts of money.”