Space travel set to take off as Government unveils plans to build ‘rocket ports’ around the country in the Queen’s Speech
The landmark transport bill will be announced on Wednesday
COMMERCIAL space flights will move a step closer as the Government unveils three landmark transport bills in the Queen’s Speech.
A space industry bill will allow firms to launch satellites from the UK for the first time - putting Britain at the heart of new spaceflight technology.
It will also enable regional spaceports to be set up across the UK, allow horizontal flights to the edge of space for scientific experiments and end our dependence on foreign launch services.
The space bill will also introduce new powers to license a range of cutting-edge technology - including vertically-launched rockets, spaceplanes and spaceports.
A second bill will rip up red tape that prevent drivers switching to plug-in vehicles.
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Those wanting to use publicly accessible charging points currently need to register with several different firms that run them but the new law will ensure drivers will only need to register once.
A third transport bill will finally give the go-ahead for the northern leg of HS2 - bring high speed rail between the Midlands and North West England.
Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said: “We are absolutely determined to give Britain the transport infrastructure it needs so that we can thrive and grow as we leave the European Union.
“The measures we outline this week will ensure our legal structures are ready for the high skill, highly paid jobs of the future, while backing the transport projects that will make journeys better for ordinary working people.
“It’s only by backing infrastructure through our Modern Industrial Strategy that we can spread prosperity and opportunity around the country.”