§ Mr. CorbynTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make in assessment of the report of the Commission to Assess United States National Security Space Management and Organisation, presented to the Chairman of the Committee of Armed Services of the US House of Representatives on 11 January, in respect of the aspects which have implications for United Kingdom security policy. [160812]
§ Mr. HoonWe are aware of the report and await the US Department of Defense response to it. The outer space treaty places important limitations on military activity in space without entirely prohibiting it. We do not want to see a general prohibition on military use of space because, for example, as confirmed in the Strategic Defence Review, we perceive a continuing needs for secure satellite communications for the armed forces. We do not support the further consideration of the use of outer space by the conference on disarmament in Geneva.