 The final item of business today is a member's business debate on motion number 1615 in the name of David Stewart, on support for Hamilton Airport as Spaceport. This debate will be concluded without any questions being put. Will those members who wish to speak in the debate please press their request-to-speak buttons now? I'm really intrigued by this debate, Mr Stewart, so I call on David Stewart to open this debate seven minutes, please. Thank you for the vote of confidence, Presiding Officer, and I'm delighted to be able to come and speak today. On July 9, 1962, a Thor Delta rocket was launched from Cape Canaveral. On board was the UK's aerial 1 satellite. Not only did this make the UK the third country after the USA and the former Soviet Union to operate a satellite, but it also launched the UK space industry. An industry that has developed to the point that, in 2014, it contributed £11.8 billion to the British economy and supported 35,000 jobs according to the UK Government's own figures. Just as the satellite began the UK space industry, so its satellites have allowed the UK Government to secure the ambition of a space industry worth £40 billion by 2030, which will represent a 10 per cent share of the global space industry market. A first step towards that goal was the UK Government's announcement that intended to develop a single site as the UK's spaceport. In July 2014, a short list of potential sites was announced, with a view that the chosen site would be up and running by 2018. The original short list of eight was reduced to five, which included three sites in Scotland, Prestwick, Campbelltown and Stornoway. Countryd McHannish, the generic community area that covers Campbelltown, is the only runway that meets the requirement of the runway length for horizontal length. However, in May of this year, the Department for Transport wrote to the spaceport bidders to inform them of the decision to end the bidding process and to move towards a licensing model. In previous debates, I have supported the case for the selection of Campbelltown airport and I am still of the opinion that this is the best site for a spaceport. It should be remembered—many members will be aware of this—that Campbelltown airport was developed as a military airport and, up until the end of the Cold War, was a major part of NATO's network. For example, in the Second World War, it had the longest runway in Europe. Consequently, many millions of pounds were spent on maintaining and building the infrastructure facilities of a high standard, including three jet fuel storage installations and a pipeline to Campbelltown harbour to ensure the safe delivery of high-volatile fuel. Those facilities remain today in excellent working conditions and will enable to meet the needs not just of the permanent staff but also of the visiting technicians needed at various times during each stage of the project. When we move, Presiding Officer, from the satellite launching to space tourism, this good quality on-site accommodation and training facilities will be essential. It is worth mentioning at this point that Campbelltown airport is the only UK site that has been approved for use by a spaceport by Virgin Galactic and by NASA. Clearly, safety will be an important factor in the granting of a licence. Clearly, the last thing that we want to do is the possibility of a mid-air collision with an aircraft. Spacecraft leaving from the spaceport will take off horizontally just like a conventional aircraft, and a runway of 3,000 metres is required for this type of launch. As I said earlier, Campbelltown is the only one of the shortlisted sites to have this requirement. In addition, the runway launches away from any land or habitation straight over the Atlantic Ocean, an important safety factor. Lack of operation around a spaceport is also very important. Not only can the noise from the take-off be excessive, much louder than normal aircraft, but take-off is obviously the most dangerous part of any space mission, with the possibility of an explosion involving many tonnes of rocket fuel. Although we all hope that an accident will never happen, the relative isolation of Campbelltown airport would be a significant safety factor in this unlikely event occurring. A satellite launch facility is a long-term project that involves much more than just providing a long runway. To get the most out of the project, room will be needed to develop and to grow. With a site stretching to more than 1,000 acres, there is more than ample room for development, not just of a launching site, but of associated industries, research and development and education. With the dark skies associated with contire due to the lack of light pollution, it would be a great place for an astronomy-based tourist centre. Although it is being cited in the beautiful contire peninsula, Campbelltown benefits from a reasonably good road system and a harbour that could and probably should have its fairly links developed in keeping with the wishes of the local community. Although the airport is only a short flight by a fixed wing or helicopter from Glasgow international airport, it is perfectly capable of handling its own international air traffic. After all, NASA was satisfied to have it as an emergency landing location for its space shuttle, which, of course, would be transported back home on the back of a Boeing 747. I do not think that there is a bigger vote of confidence in Campbelltown airport than that. Of course, Campbelltown harbour itself has recently undergone extensive improvements, making it ideal for the delivery of materials before transferring to road vehicles for the short journey to the airport. As I said earlier, the spaceboat model has changed. No longer the UK Government looks for just one site, it is looking for a more competitive and commercial model. The shortlisted sites have already passed the first shifting process, so name will well be in proposition when it comes to securing a launch licence. It is unknown if the UK Government will make money available for site development, but competing sites cannot afford to sit back and wait. The change to the licence system is not the drawback to Campbelltown that may be to other sites, as it requires much less work to make it ready for safe and efficient launches. I am convinced that Campbelltown airport provides the best location for a spaceboat and is best placed to deliver a service in the time that the UK Government wants. As the decision of the UK spaceboat was not theirs to take, the Scottish Government, understandably, has not publicly backed Prestwick store in a where of Campbelltown. Now things have changed. The Scottish Government can choose to let the market decide or it can play a proactive role in helping Scotland to secure launch licence. For example, it could create an enterprise area status for the spaceport of activities at Macrohanich, and perhaps the minister could comment on that. Any site that wins a licence has the potential to create substantial employment and economic benefits to its community for a long time to come. Scottish Government co-operation is now essential, not just to assist with site development but to ensure that potential spaceport makes the best commercial and technical partnerships. I put in record, my thanks to Charlotte Wright and the colleagues of Hannah's Enterprise for the support and development of the project. Throughout history, and I will conclude at this point, Scottish scientists have been in the vanguard of innovation and discovery from James Watt, the Godfather of Industrial Revolution to Robert Watson Watt, the inventor of radar. All that continues in the fine development of the current issues that we have before us. We ought not just to people today to get behind the project, we ought to future generations. We can build on this great legacy and grasp this opportunity to be the forefront of space technology or we can choose to be left behind. Should we be no greater transport aspiration for the Scottish Parliament than to link Scotland with the moon? Some people think that we are already in here tethered to the moon individuals, but there we are. I now call Kenneth Gibson to follow Edward Mountain. Mr Gibson, four minutes please. Thank you, Presiding Officer. I would like to thank David Stewart for securing valuable debate and time in the chamber on this important matter. I recognise this as a topic on which we both feel strongly. However, I disagree that Camel Town Airport would be the best choice for Scotland when the site at Prestwick Airport is clearly the better option, and so for the first time since I was first elected in 1999, I must speak against the motion in a member's debate. With the space industry set for rapid growth, we have a tremendous opportunity for Scotland to be home to the first-ever spaceport on European soil and a hub for commercial space flights. It would be ideal to showcase our skills in engineering and science and propeller cells into developing the next generation of space-related industries. That is why it is of the utmost importance that the right site is chosen. That is an opportunity that is far too good to be lost, and we should unite behind a campaign for one site in order to secure this one for all of Scotland. I strongly believe that that site should be Prestwick, where some of the largest global aerospace companies are already based, including BAE Systems, Spirit Aerosystems, GE Caledonian, UTC Aerospace Systems and Woodward Inc. Spirit Aerosystems alone employs around 900 people at Prestwick, and so location is key. Prestwick is close proximity to Glasgow, home to some of our nation's finest university graduates and scholars, research teams and innovative companies. It cannot be underestimated. Clyde Space is a great example of one such company producing and selling small satellite systems making it a frontrunner in its field. Nearby Glasgow is an ever-growing hub of activity, and Prestwick, just half an hour from the largest community of space industry employees outside London and the south-east, has an advantage that cannot be understated. Prestwick is therefore the superior location and valuable with a project of this nature. There are 8,000 engineering undergraduates within 50 miles of Prestwick and 4 million people living within two hours' travel. The excellent road and rail links tuned from Prestwick airport mean that it is easily accessible, with little chance of being stuck behind a timber lorry, as can often happen in Argyll, as happened to me three times on 26 September last month. At Prestwick, vehicles will easily be able to transport materials and goods that need to be delivered on-site. Central road and rail services make it simple for equipment to be moved and also to attract specialist staff. Of course, in order to be considered as a spaceport, a site must meet the appropriate requirements. Prestwick is more than ready for this, with a runway over 2,980 metres long that frequently handles the largest of aircraft, as well as three air traffic control towers and the experience of space flight technology. I am not alone in believing that Prestwick is the right place for this spaceport. The bid is being led by Stuart McIntyre, a Scottish entrepreneur who has a great experience with British Aerospace, Scottish Aviation and Prestwick itself. The experience that is brought to the team is invaluable in helping to create an exciting proposal for Prestwick spaceport. A huge part of that is the new and exciting employment opportunities and sectors that include science, technology, engineering and construction. Scotland is already known for being innovative in the developing of those sectors, and the spaceport will take that even further. Other industries will benefit with more spending power in the Ayrshire economy, both from spaceport workers and increased tourism. The existing Ayrshire and Arn tourism market is worth over £340 million a year, and Ayrshire has a huge appeal across the world with its beautiful coastlines, golf courses and rich heritage. The spaceport would simply expand on that. The Scottish Government needs to stop pussy-footing about on that. Having three potential spaceports is unrealistic. Hedging's One's Bets is more likely to see the spaceport going to Wales or England, each of which has only one proposal. Sometimes, minister, you need to put your eggs in one basket, and this is just such an occasion. Please, minister, back Prestwick, which has shown itself to be the front-runner in the competition for the first spaceport in the UK. That is an incredible opportunity, and Prestwick is clearly the ideal location to secure this important development for Scotland. I want to agree with David Stewart that I do not believe that he is wired to the moon with his suggestion. I am supporting his proposal. I was rather speaking of some others in here, including myself, not indeed, Mr Stewart. In my opinion, there is only one site in Scotland, and that is the site at McHannish. The reasons why, the reasons that have partly been given, first of all, it is secluded and accessible. It has pedigree being a former RAF base having played a very important role in the Cold War, and it is already regarded as an international airfield having been used by the US navy. It has form, as has been mentioned. NASA has identified it during the space shuttle launches and as an emergency landing site, so it has been recognised. When the announcement was made to select a spaceport, it was to be done by competition. However, the Department of Transport decided that it was now to be done by a way of licensing to ensure that the regulatory conditions are met. The head of international aviation in the UK space agency welcomed the change. They advised that it would create viable business models and a range of locations, and that it has. The good news is that this also makes McHannish probably the most attractive site because it is looking for the following basic requirements—an existing runway that extends over 3,000 metres, the ability to have an airfield that has no conflicting airspace demands, that it is reasonably located from densely populated areas, it has suitable meteorological and environmental conditions, which it does, and that the location must be accessible to staff and visitors. McHannish ticked all those boxes and in April 2015 discovered space UK launched its bid for Camelton, declaring that they are confident that the site is the best possible option, especially under a licensing agreement. They are the only bidders that feel that they have the suitable runway and that they have the best launch direction with over 1,000 acres of opportunity. The site has also received support, as we have heard, from Virgin Galactic, and it has lifted it in its top three preferred sites. Our council welcomes Discovery Space Spid. Highlands and Islands Enterprise have also backed the campaign. They believe that it will encourage people to live and work in Camelton, which, as we know, will be vitally important and help to boost tourism. I believe that you should be campaigning for Camelton to be chosen as the space for it. Really simply because it is the only candidate that meets the requirements, it is approved by NASA, it has a real operator Virgin who wants to use it, and its coastal location and quasi-remote makes it a perfect spaceport. One other thing is that I would like to say that Makrahanesh Airbase is owned by a community-based company. They purchased the site for £1, with the intention of re-vigorating the economy, and you minister can make that happen. Let us join in this journey together and turn a flight of fancy into reality and help make Makrahanesh Airbase the first British spaceport. I join members in welcoming the debate. This evening, I congratulate Dave Stewart on bringing forward that motion. It is clear from contributions so far that aerospace is recognised as a key growth area for the UK economy. As Dave Stewart's motion outlines, we should be making every effort to embrace the industries of the future. Aerospace is widely regarded as an emerging market, and the creation of new spaceports in the UK presents significant economic opportunities that we must look to take advantage of. As members have outlined, Scotland is well positioned to take advantage of the potential benefits of the expected emergence of new low-cost rocket planes that can launch fair-paying passengers into space and also satellites into orbit. We know that most of those vehicles are still quite some time away from being operational. There is a belief that if the UK gets its act together now, then we will be in a position to take advantage of the first wave when they arrive and steal a march on competitors. As has been mentioned, the UK Government recently announced its intention to create regulatory conditions for any suitable location that wishes to become a spaceport to take the opportunity to develop and attract commercial space business. That means that there is a potential to set up a network of spaceports around the UK rather than a single site as was originally planned. The fact that we have free potential locations across Scotland, which were all shortlisted in the original competition, should be welcomed. All free of those locations will have individual strengths. Dave Stewart has rightly made reference, as are other members, to the strengths of Campbelltown. There is a potential location, which includes, as has been mentioned, a free 1,000-metre runway, excellent storage facilities for hazardous materials and transport links. Many members, such as Kenny Gibson, will point to the strengths that Presswick has to offer, including the fact that almost a quarter of £1 million has been invested to develop Presswick's aerospace sector. That investment will go towards a comprehensive development programme that includes infrastructure, business development, energy reduction and supply chain development. The potential benefits of having a spaceport in Scotland are clear. Not only would one create skilled jobs and opportunities for high-tech supplies and services, it would also provide a boost for the tourism industry. We have an impressive track record when it comes to space technology. The UK is already a world leader in satellite business, with a particular strength in small satellites. Scottish companies are already playing a leading role in providing components and systems for those satellites. As Kenny Gibson mentioned, the Glasgow-based company Clyde Space is widely regarded as one of the most innovative young companies in the UK and has become the largest indigenous space company in Scotland. It produces high-quality, high-performance systems for very small spacecrafts. Clyde Space was one of the first commercial companies in the world to recognise the potential of the new technology. It has a 40 per cent share of the global market for power components, for so-called CubeSats. We have much to be proud of, and what spaceports provide is the opportunity for us to be ahead of the curve when it comes to the next generation of space travel. They are wide-ranging potential benefits, not only to the areas in which any spaceport is located, but to the wider Scottish economy as well. I join Dave Stewart and other members in urging the Scottish Government to do everything that it can to ensure that we grasp the opportunity to be at the forefront of space technology. I congratulate my colleague David Stewart for bringing this motion here. He has already outlined that Argyll and Butte Council and Highlands and Islands Enterprise lend their support to the proposal for Cambleton Airport to be a spaceport, and I would certainly lend my personal support for that. I am not pussy-foot about in the issue at all, Argyll, if you are very clear, that is where it lies. I want it to be a bit more informed debate than our runway is bigger than your runway, but the reality of the situation is that, of course, there are competing demands. The reason partly for those competing demands is the estimate that the UK space industry could create up to 100,000 jobs by 2030. Argyll and Butte Council is focused on the jobs element to supplement our excellent cohort of timber-lorry drivers. We want to see the number of specialist jobs that would come with that. Mr Gibson talked about the workforce, and Mr Bibby mentioned the expertise that exists there. That is highlighted in the motion where it talks about the close proximity to areas of engineering expertise. The reality is that the people who are involved in that type of job and that level of job are a very mobile workforce, and I am sure that they would not only enjoy coming to the Contire Peninsula, but they would be made very welcome there. Another reason why I would favour McRahanish is that it was purchased from MOD, and Scottish Greens are keen to see the MOD portfolio in Scotland greatly reduced. The fact that it is part of a community buy-out in 2012 just adds to that as well. We have a policy on space travel, and I hope to allude to that if time permits. Part of that is that we will want surrounding communities to benefit from that. As has been said on many occasions already, there are strong community links between the Contire community and McRahanish site. £50 million of UK Government money will go a long way. I also too was going to mention the Clyde space and its cube satellites and the leading role that it plays in the market. Clearly, if we had a spaceport in Scotland, wherever that would be, it would mean that we could design, launch and build and launch satellites from Scotland, and it certainly would be my view that, for the reasons that are outlined, McRahanish would be that site. The London School of Economics identifies a thing that is called knowledge spin-overs from the increased space research and development. That is a situation in which knowledge gain can be used to create other technologies in different sectors, such as aeronautics, healthcare, transport and energy. That was used to me, I have to say, but the examples of the spillers over from the NASA research included advanced robotic surgery, efficient engines, memory phone matrices, water purification and environmental sensors. That led into information about the optimal sites for wind farms. Of course, wind farms have become tourist attractions. We know from white lead the significant number, and there is no doubt that the space station would become a tourist attraction, too. A policy in space exploration was passed by the Green's Conference in 2015, and, if I read you the very first paragraph, we recognise the benefits to society provided by satellite technology in building our scientific knowledge, particularly environmental science, and in the provision of telecommunications and navigation services. It would not be a green policy without referencing to recycling, and part of it we would encourage the salvaging and recycling of redundant and waste material currently in orbit. Most important, the condition that I would place in support—I am coming to a halt, thank you, Presiding Officer—is to say that we would oppose the militarisation of space, and we would fully endorse this bid, but also endorse the UN Outer Space Treaty, which was formally the treaty on principles governing the activities of states in the exploration and use of outer space, including the moon and other celestial bodies. I thank David Stewart for bringing in the motion. Thank you, Mr Finnie. I call Donald Cameron to be followed by John Scott. Mr Scott will be the last to speak in the debate, Mr Cameron. Thank you, Presiding Officer. As a Highlands and Islands MSP, I am delighted and pleased to offer my support for David Stewart's motion and the campaign from Discover Space UK, which is leading the bid for McRohannish to gain one of the new spaceport licences from the UK Government. As other members have noted, there are a variety of reasons why McRohannish is not only a viable choice, but also an appropriate choice. Some colleagues have touched on the benefits, but I would like to add some detail, which I believe further enhances the case that is being made today. Firstly, as many have mentioned, the runway of McRohannish is the longest out of all the shortlisted locations. At 349 feet long, it is the longest civil runway in Britain. As the McRohannish airbase community company consultation document notes, it is a runway that could very easily be extended. In fact, that company is keen to explore extension options, because, whilst the current runway already meets suborbital criteria, it could meet fully orbital and even vertical launch criteria with an expansion. The company has also noted that, given the relatively short distance to the North Sea, there is the opportunity to use McRohannish as a base for a sea launch site, a model that is currently used in the Pacific on the Ocean Odyssey platform. The site already has suitable capacity with onsite accommodation for around 2,000 personnel, existing hangar space, a fuel storage capacity of 6.2 million litres, fueling facilities and low-cost space for businesses. McRohannish is only 43 miles away from Glasgow and 50 miles from Belfast by air and, of course, does have a direct road link to Glasgow. As an existing functional commercial airport, McRohannish comes with the necessary initial staffing expertise and, importantly, has a manned and operational control tower. Due to the fact that it is a low-use commercial airport, that means that there is a mostly clear airspace, a vital element of the civil aviation authority's spaceport criteria. As others have mentioned, the initial competition element has now been abandoned in favour of a licensing scheme. I welcome that because there are a number of suitable sites and I hope that Britain can lead the way in the spaceport industry, especially here in Scotland. I hope that the Scottish Government will be fully behind the McRohannish bid, as this bid will have immeasurable benefits for Kintyre itself, for Argyll and Bute and for the wider area. Kenneth Gibson spoke as an ardent and passionate supporter of Prestwick, and I also sense John Scott quite literally breathing down my neck, and he will take a different view. I also note that the transport minister today at the rural economy committee said that Prestwick could be handed back to the public and used as a link airport to an enlarged Heathrow. I wonder if the Scottish Government could make their position clear on that. Deputy Presiding Officer, there is, in my view, a clear case for a licence to be granted to the McRohannish bid. It has a solid business case, but, importantly, it comes with the backing of the local community, Argyll and Bute Council and Highlands and Islands Enterprise. If we can all support this motion today, it will be a small step for this Parliament, a giant leap for McRohannish. All those cliches coming home to us. There is no vote, mercifully, on members' debates. John Scott, please. I begin by apologising to the chamber for not being here for the early part of the debate, but, nonetheless, I wish to speak in support of what Kenny Gibson has already said regarding Prestwick airport. Like Kenny Gibson, I do not wish to make this a contentious debate, and, of course, I respect Mr Stewart's support of McRohannish and, indeed, my colleagues, but I feel that it is important for me to differ from the points of view that you hold, because this is too serious just to let what you say stand. Self-evidently, McRohannish is not the location of choice for spaceport in Scotland. All the things that Mr Gibson said are absolutely true. I would only correct him on one fact, and that is that Spirit currently employ more than 900 people. In fact, they employ more than 1,000 people. However, there are 3,000 people around Prestwick airport in what is genuinely a world-class hub of maintenance and repair and overhaul. There is nowhere else like it in Britain. Never mind McRohannish. That is absolutely vital to the assistance of a spaceport. A long runway in a remote location of itself is not enough. Road access, as Mr Gibson pointed out, motorway from Glasgow, from central Scotland, from London is there to the front door now of Prestwick airport. Mr Gibson and I, although we are not often on the same side of an argument, fought and campaigned to have the A77 upgraded from day 1 in this Parliament, and we have now succeeded, thank goodness, to motorway status. There is a motorway all the way from London, from Glasgow to the front door of Prestwick airport. There has been much talked about in terms of timber lorries in Ergylser, and I am sorry, but that is a fact of life. We need good access because a spaceport is also about providing access for customers as well as objects going into space. Plans are already well under way at Prestwick airport for human space travel. There is indeed a timescale on it, but I am afraid that I might be breaking confidences by talking about that, but plans are well under way. What I would also like to say is that not only does Prestwick airport have the advantage of having a 3,000-strong workforce around that area, some of whom are already involved in the design of spacecraft, but a willing workforce. It also has the absolute support of the community in Ayrshire. That is not just South Ayrshire, that extends to the whole of Ayrshire. North and South and East Ayrshire do not always agree regrettably, but that is one thing on which we are absolutely united. In addition, it has the absolute support of the councils of Ayrshire, but particularly the council of South Ayrshire Council. In terms of the length of the runway and the licensing requirements, Prestwick is already virtually compliant with American licensing situations. A fact that is very important and would require very little alteration to Prestwick to make it—if Prestwick as an airport were in America, it would already be sufficiently compliant probably to be a spaceport. I see the Presiding Officer telling me to stop. I thank you for your indulgence, Presiding Officer, in letting me speak. I support Mr Gibson in all that he said today. I was just telling you that you were coming at the end of your four minutes. I wasn't mean so unkind as to say stop. I now call on the minister to wind up for the Government. I'm intrigued. Is it Camelton? Is it Prestwick? Is it somewhere that we haven't talked about? You've got seven minutes, minister. Thank you very much, Presiding Officer. I, too, would be very interested by the debate. I would like to thank David Stewart for securing the debate today. It has been quite obvious that there is a genuine degree of passion and interest in the subject across the chamber for the proponents of both Camelton and Prestwick. Indeed, Mr Stewart mentioned Stornoway, which I will refer to later on. I have been impressed by the level of detail that has been displayed by Mr Stewart, Mr Gibson, John Scott and others, including John Finnie, Neil Bibby, Donald Cameron and Edward Mountain. I commend all members for the detail of research that they have done on the subject. Scotland has a small but dynamic and growing space sector, which is focused on a number of high-tech, high-skill and research and development-intensive areas, creating the Scottish space industry turnover of around £134 million in the latest figures that we have available to us. The space industry in Scotland is spearheaded by a cluster of 128 companies, some of which were mentioned by Kenneth Gibson and others in the course of their speeches, at the cutting edge of their specialisms and backed by strong relationships with researchers in Scottish universities and research pools. The Scottish space sector has a very strong international standing in small satellite systems, space science research, as well as related areas such as sensor systems and big data. Within Scotland, the aspiration is to secure 10 per cent of the UK market by 2030, which is potentially worth £4 billion. John Finnie cited the economic potential at UK level and Scotland level, and the impact that it can have in a local economy, such as Camelton or Prestwick, is clear. I think that that is probably what is fueling the very significant interest and, indeed, passion of champions in both locations. The spaceport would act as a major catalyst for the development of Scotland and, indeed, the UK's developing space sector. It would attract investors to Scotland to play their part in the space industry supply chain, act as a hub for technology providers and professional services, attract space tourists and free up the global bottleneck at the point of small satellite launch to allow growth in the new space market. The spaceport opportunity is not about space flight in isolation, it is not only about launching a satellite or transporting a space tourist, it is much more than that. The wider benefits of being a licensed spaceport are extensive, potentially impacting on manufacturing industries, research and development, academia and tourism, to name but a few. Speaking of tourism, it is not just about taking people into space. Of course, as a number of members have mentioned, it is also about attracting visitors who will travel to see an operational spaceport with live launches and potential visitor centres. Again, the potential is vast in that respect. David Stewart and Edward Mountain have said that the selection process for a UK spaceport has seen a significant change, and as part of the modern transport bill, it was announced that the UK Government would be moving to a legislative framework approach. That is a departure from the previous bidding process to determine who would host the United Kingdom's only spaceport. A legislative framework such as being proposed brings with it a number of benefits, some of which help to address the concerns that members have expressed today about picking winners. There will no longer be one winner necessarily, but instead space operations will be possible from multiple sites across the country for Scotland, and I will open them. Mr Scott. Will the minister agree with me that this will essentially be driven ultimately by the market? Those who want to put objects and people into space will decide what the most favourable location is, and in that regard, does he agree with me that Prestwick is that place in Scotland? A good try, Mr Scott. It is a good attempt to have to give marks out of 10 for effort there, but I would accept that the first part of what John Scott has said. If I mind, I will come on to the other aspect of it later. I think that it is important that the market will have a determining factor here, but there may be potential different roles, and I will come on to that for spaceports. It is not just a one-size-fits-all solution that is perhaps needed. As I said, space operations may be possible from multiple sites across the UK, and clearly we would be keen to see that happen in Scotland. For Scotland, an open licensing regime would mean that any Scottish site could proceed with their ambitions to become a spaceport. That is significant given that there are a range of spaceflight operators. If I could just develop a point and I will bring Mr Stewart a range of operators and opportunities to pursue, including the launch of satellites and taking tourists into orbit, and that revised approach could potentially lead to a number of spaceflight hubs across the UK with spaceports and spacecraft instead now being licensed to bring in Mr Stewart. Mr Stewart. Thank you. Obviously, we have discussed earlier that the decision-making will really be the UK Government, the Department for Transport and the CAA. However, there are levers that the Scottish Government can apply. I mentioned in my speech the creation of an economic enterprise, the area or zone, around about the Macrahanish area. Is that something that is being actively considered by the Scottish Government? Mr Healy. In direct response to that, as I am a relatively new post, I am not aware of anything specific in that area, but I will have a look and investigate and, if need be, I will get back to Mr Stewart around any options that are being looked at from Macrahanish. Clearly, we are supporting the development of Macrahanish manufacturing with wind turbines for CS wind and others, so there is a strong interest in developing the Campbelltown economy. However, I would like to highlight that having said that there are a number of potential hubs, there are still challenges out there for potential sites. Although I note the points that were made by a number of members—David Stewart, Kenneth Gibson, Donald Cameron—regarding various technical aspects of the provision that is available at both Prestwick and Macrahanish at Campbelltown, there is still a lack of clarity, perhaps, as to what the key infrastructure requirements will be for each of those particular roles, until there is detailed guidance on what the minimum standards that are required are, and I have obviously mentioned runway length being one possible criteria. It is difficult for any airport to establish whether the commercial benefits of pursuing a licence would achieve a reasonable return on the investment, including potentially significant infrastructure costs. There will also potentially be an increased financial risk for any site wishing to become a spaceport. Previously, the winning bidder would have been allocated an anchor tenant and thus guaranteed income for an initial period, and this no longer seems possible under the newly proposed process. Although there are advantages, there are also issues that perhaps run in the other direction. Two potential Scottish spaceport sites remain. Of course, we have focused on both of those sites—Campbelltown and Prestwick—and the Scottish Government is committed to supporting both. I appreciate the point that Mr Gibson has made about not wishing to put his foot around us as he delicately put it, but we have, under the licensing regime, the opportunity to support the aspirations of both airports and communities. I refer to the two possible Scottish sites, as well as there has been interest in storing a way airport becoming a spaceport. As Mr Stewart has mentioned in his opening remarks, Highlands and Islands airports, limited as owners of the airport, have decided not to pursue the opportunity at this time. We have been talking about horizontal take-off in the debate today. The minister may well be aware that there are opportunities for vertical take-off, particularly in the missile launching base, which I saw recently in the US and in Caithness, and I have had a very helpful brief from Highlands and Islands Enterprise on that. There are other options, Minister. Perhaps we could put on the record for vertical take-off. I am happy to accept that point. We will look at those aspects in due course. I understand that the Highales Board had previously considered whether to proceed with what would then have been a spaceport bid, but it decided that it would concentrate on the core business of providing airports that serve the people of Highlands and Islands at this time. Although there is no longer a bidding process, Highales has not changed their position in light of that. However, I appreciate that Western Isles Council has indicated a desire to further explore the spaceport opportunity even after Highales's decision, so I will look into the matters that Mr Stewart raises. However, our main focus is ensuring that a spaceport is based in Scotland, and both the Scottish Government and its agencies will commit to support and offer advice to any Scottish site that wishes to pursue the spaceport opportunity. I am aware that Discover Space UK has put together credible cases as to why Campbelltown could be a commercial spaceport, and the airfield has many attributes suitable to spaceflight operations, as we have heard today, including one of the longest runways in Europe. I believe that Mackrahanish air-based community company, as Mr Mountain mentioned, could develop a viable spaceport business model with our Gail and Bute Council on Highlands and Islands Enterprise. However, just as I feel that Presswick 2 can develop its own spaceport business model, Kenneth Gibson and Neil Bibby stressed aspects of the infrastructure at Presswick that set it out as a good opportunity as well. It is clear to me that both the potential Scottish sites, Campbelltown and Presswick, have strong credentials that would make them excellent locations should they decide to apply for a licence. Not only would those locations benefit themselves, but so would Scotland benefit as a whole. I have been impressed by the depth of knowledge today that members have expressed in the support of both. However, I would highlight that it is ultimately for Campbelltown and Presswick to decide if they wish to proceed once the criteria are announced. The advantage of the new legislation from my perspective is that both airfields can become a spaceport without being at the expense of each other. The passion that we have shown today is that we can work together to make sure that Scotland secures an opportunity. Now that the UK Government has announced its intention to move towards a licensing framework, we would encourage it to ensure that all interested parties are given a clear understanding of the infrastructure requirements that are involved, and that will enable prospective sites to develop a viable business model and to determine whether they wish to pursue an application to be licensed. I want to see a spaceport located in Scotland. Indeed, I would like to see spaceports plural located in Scotland if that is possible. There is no reason why both our potential sites cannot establish a business model to seize the many opportunities that being licensed would bring. I reiterate my belief that both sites would make excellent spaceports. The Scottish Government and its agencies will continue to provide advice and support to assist our Scottish sites and stand ready to help them to realise their ambition of becoming a spaceport.