Space Industry Bill [Lords] — House of Commons, 2018-02-06
Topic: Technology
Eleanor Fulton Laing (Conservative, Centre-right): With this it will be convenient to discuss the following: New clause 4—Cap on licensees’ liability limit— ‘(1) The Secretary of State must, within 12 months of this Act receiving Royal Assent, lay a report before Parliament setting out plans for a cap on licensees’ liability (2) Before exercising their duties under subsection (1), the Secretary of State must carry out a consultation on what an appropriate maximum limit would be on the amount of a licensee’s liability, and lay a report before Parliament setting this out (3) The report under subsection (1) must provide for, but is not limited to— (a) a maximum limit on the amount of a particular licensee’s liability for each launch undertaken by the operator; (b) a maximum limit on the amount of licensees’ liability for each launch classification type; (c) divisions of responsibility and the level of liability for parties’ spaceflight activities, including— (i) the Spaceport; (ii) the launch operator; and (iii) the satellite operator (4) In subsection (3) "launch classification type" means the level of risk attached to each type of launch as determined by the regulator (5) Before exercising their duties under subsection (1), the Secretary of State must consult the Scottish Government, the Welsh Government and the Northern Ireland Executive and have regard to their views in respect of any proposed regulations (6) As well as consulting those under subsection (5) the Secretary of State must consult with— (a) UKspace, and (b) any other such persons as the Secretary of State considers appropriate." This new clause would require the Government to consult on and set a mandatory cap on licensees’ liability for each individual launch, based on the classification type of each launch. Amendment 4, in clause 9, page 8, line 24, at end insert— ‘(10) The Secretary of State must, within 12 months of this Act receiving Royal Assent, publish guidance about any regulations in relation to operator licences. Such guidance must be issued by the regulator (if the regulator is not the Secretary of State) (11) The regulator must hold pre-licensing discussions with any potential operator before an operator licence can be issued to them (12) Discussions under subsection (11) must include, but are not limited to, providing potential operators with guidance on any regulations in relation to operator licences." This amendment would require the Secretary of State to publish guidance about any regulations issued in relation to operator licences, and to hold discussions with all potential operators before a licence can be issued to them, to ensure that the UK space industry is sufficiently aware of the regulatory framework. Amendment 1, in clause 68, page 44, line 35, after "offences," insert— "(n) regulations under subsection (1) of this section" This amendment would make regulations made under section 68(1) subject to the affirmative procedure. Amendment 2, in schedule 6, page 61, line 2, after "authority" insert "and devolved administration" This amendment would make it a requirement that when an order is made to obtain rights over land, notices about the orders must be served to devolved administrations, where relevant. Amendment 3, page 61, line 22, after "authority" insert "and devolved administration" This amendment would make it a requirement that when an order is made to obtain rights over land, notices about the orders must be served to devolved administrations, where relevant.