Space Industry Act 2018

15 Transfer, variation, suspension or termination of licence

(1) A licence under this Act may be transferred with the written consent of the regulator.

(2) The regulator may consent to a licence being transferred to a person (“the transferee”) only if satisfied that—

(a) consenting to the transfer—

(i) will not impair the national security of the United Kingdom;

(ii) is consistent with the international obligations of the United Kingdom;

(iii) is not contrary to the national interest;

(b) the transferee has the financial and technical resources to do the things authorised by the licence, and is otherwise a fit and proper person to do them;

(c) the persons who are expected to do, on the transferee’s behalf, any of the things authorised by the licence are fit and proper persons to do them.

(3) The regulator may revoke, vary or suspend a licence under this Act—

(a) with the consent of the licensee,

(b) in accordance with the terms of the licence, or

(c) where the regulator is satisfied it is necessary to do so—

(i) in the interests of safety,

(ii) in the interests of national security,

(iii) to comply with any international obligation of the United Kingdom, or

(iv) otherwise in the national interest.

(4) The regulator may revoke or vary a licence under this Act where it appears to the regulator that—

(a) a condition of the licence has not been complied with, or

(b) the licensee has failed to comply with, or to secure compliance with, obligations imposed under or by virtue of any enactment.

(5) Where it appears to the regulator that an investigation or review is needed to ascertain whether or not—

(a) it is necessary to revoke or vary a licence under subsection (3)(c), or

(b) paragraph (a) or (b) of subsection (4) applies,

the regulator may vary or suspend the licence pending the outcome of the investigation or review.

(6) If the regulator is not the Secretary of State, the regulator must consult the Secretary of State—

(a) before revoking a licence under this Act,

(b) before varying such a licence (otherwise than under subsection (5)), or

(c) before consenting to the transfer of such a licence.

(7) The suspension, revocation or expiry of a licence does not affect the obligations of the licensee or former licensee under the conditions of the licence.

(8) For the purposes of this section, varying a licence includes—

(a) removing, varying or suspending a condition of a licence;

(b) adding a new condition to a licence.