Bigger role for UK Research Councils in taking forward the
UK’s space agenda

Science and Innovation Minister Lord Sainsbury today announced
moves to strengthen the way space policy in the UK is managed,
following a review of the British National Space Centre.

As a result of the review, carried out by the Department of
Trade and Industry, the Government has agreed to transfer
almost £150M from the DTI to the Natural Environment Research
Council (NERC) and the Particle Physics and Astronomy
Research Council (PPARC) over three years. Both will play a
bigger role in developing and implementing the UK’s space
policies.

Lord Sainsbury said:

“This review has enabled us to take stock of the way we
manage the space budget in the UK. The changes I am
announcing today will improve our ability to choose in
future between competing priorities. This can only be good
for the space community at large. At the same time we are
reinforcing the BNSC’s unique role in policy co-ordination
and joined-up thinking.

“The transfer of funds to the Research Councils ensures
that those with the appropriate expertise and policy
responsibility will have a closer influence over future
space programmes in their areas of scientific expertise.”

This change will increase accountability across the BNSC
partnership. From April 2003, the NERC will be made
financially responsible for the whole of the ESA Earth
observation science budget. This transfer will apply to
those ESA optional programmes that have primarily scientific
objectives, such as the Earth Observation Envelope Programme.
At present, the NERC is responsible for exploiting the
research opportunities arising from these programmes but
the DTI contributes to the development of the satellites
themselves.

Professor John Lawton, Chief Executive of NERC, said:

“Earth Observation plays a fundamental role in understanding
and predicting the Earth System. I expect it to become even
more important as we pursue NERC’s science strategy,
‘Science for a sustainable future’, so I welcome the
transfers of responsibility and funding announced today.
We will work energetically with stakeholders to boost our
strengths in Earth Observation and ensure that the UK
continues to benefit from ESA environmental science
programmes.”

In addition, the PPARC is set to become financially
responsible for the whole of the UK’s contribution to the
mandatory European Space Agency (ESA) science budget.

Professor Ian Halliday, Chief Executive of PPARC, commented:

“PPARC sees clear advantage in the financial transparency
implied by this transfer. The spend by PPARC in space science
will be £45M per year as a subscription to ESA to provide
launchers, spacecraft and their operation, with a further
£10M per year in domestic spend to build instruments to
install on these missions.”

Despite the change in the financial make up of the BNSC
partnership, it will remain the focal point of UK space
policy. BNSC will continue to drive the agenda forward, so
that the UK remains an internationally recognised centre
for world-class space and environmental sciences, and a
sought after partner in international co-operation. This
emphasis will form the core of the new UK Space Strategy.
It will reflect the increased responsibilities across the
BNSC partnership and ensure that it continues to be a
model of joined up thinking.

Notes to Editors

1. The review of budgetary and organisational arrangements
for BNSC, and its position in relation to the DTI and the
Office of Science and Technology, was set up following
the recommendation of the Trade and Industry Committee
report into UK civil space policy. The review was
completed in January 2002 and a report submitted to the
Minister for Space. The Government’s response together
with the review is available on the BNSC website,
http://www.bnsc.gov.uk/index.cfm?pid=261

2. Funds will be transferred from the Innovation Space budget
in 2003/4, 2004/5 and 2005/6 to the Office of Science and
Technology’s vote for the NERC of £41.3m, £41.0m and
£41.6m respectively; and for the PPARC of £8.3m, £8.5m
and £8.7m respectively. These funds are already fully
committed to international programmes and the change will
therefore not affect the overall space spend by BNSC
partners. Around 60 per cent of UK space funding goes
into the European Space Agency to finance projects such
as Envisat, Galileo and Mars Express.

3. ESA has identified two types of Earth Observation missions
for the future. Earth Explorers are dedicated to
environmental science research whereas Earth Watch missions
are pre-operational, providing the stepping-stone to future
operational services. The transfer of resources to the
NERC will focus on development and implementation of ESA
Explorer missions. DTI will retain responsibility for ESA
Earth Watch missions. Through the BNSC partnership
opportunities will be sought to gain maximum benefit for
UK environmental science, business and public sector use
of Earth observation from these programmes.

4. Dr Pippa Goldschmidt conducted the BNSC Review. A member
of staff in the DTI, Dr Goldschmidt has experience in
astronomy and policy and has subsequently moved to the
team implementing the outcomes of the DTI review of
Business Support.

5. Lord Sainsbury announced in July the start of the
consultation process towards producing a new UK Space
Strategy. Key drivers behind the strategy will be to
promote an innovative and competitive space sector and
ensure UK citizens, scientists and enterprises will have
access to advanced space-based systems and services.
More information can be found on the BNSC website,
http://www.bnsc.gov.uk/

6. BNSC is a partnership of Government Departments and
Research Councils with an interest in the development or
exploitation of space technologies, The British National
Space Centre (BNSC) is the UK Government body responsible
for UK civil space policy, to help gain the best possible
scientific, economic and social benefits from putting
space to work.