UK 'slacking in space race'

The UK's commercial efforts in space have been criticised

The UK risks being left behind in the commercial space race because of a lack of government ambition and the declining quality of science graduates, an all-party committee of MPs has warned.

A space strategy document published by the government last year has been described as "limited in ambition", in a report by the House of Commons Trade and Industry Select Committee.

The committee warns that UK spending on the commercial development of space is falling in real terms and it says that political interest should be matched by vision and funds.

Around £200 million is spent annually by the government on space.

The committee's report calls for the government's next space strategy "to announce something beyond a modest continuation of existing programmes".

It also expresses the hope "that the civil space programme will be funded on a less cautious basis".

MPs found signs that the quality of engineering graduates from UK universities had declined noticeably over the last five years.

Any decline in the number and calibre of science and technology graduates raises problems far beyond those of the space industry

Commons Trade and Industry Select Committee report

The report concludes that "fresh blood" will be needed to supply the space industry in the next few years and the committee wants the government to encourage young people to take an interest in space.

It says: "Any decline in the number and calibre of science and technology graduates raises problems far beyond those of the space industry alone.

"A small industry such as space is particularly vulnerable.

"The next UK space strategy must explicitly address the question of the supply of appropriately-qualified graduates so that the space industry can be sustained in the years ahead."

The report also criticises the UK's role in a new global navigation satellite system for a "lack of leadership" and the failure of government policy to create a commercially sustainable Earth observation industry.

MPs want a review of the "role, status and organisation" of the British National Space Centre, which is responsible for space policy.

The commercial development of space has grown rapidly in recent years with telecommunications, media and navigation companies all using satellites.

The UK space industry involves around 400 companies and employs around 6,300 people.