Image source, bbc

A company involved in plans to establish a spaceport in Sutherland is to open a mission control and design facility in Moray.

UK-based spaceflight firm Orbex said more than 130 new jobs could result from the decision to site the base in Forres.

Land on the Melness Crofters Estate has already been identified as a location for the spaceport.

It has proposed launching small rockets carrying nanosatellites from the site.

Read more here.

Image source, bbc

Labour MSP David Stewart asks about using Machrihanish for a spaceport.

Mr McKee says the government is keen to hear of any opportunity to help grow the space sector, so is keen to look into this further.

He goes on the highlight efforts by the sector in Forres, Shetland, Musselburgh and Glasgow.

There are still challenges ahead and the sector is concerned about the impact of the EU, particularly of any research funding gap the minister warns.

The UK government has said required secondary legislation for the first spaceport will be in place by 2021.

Image source, bbc

Mr McKee says Scotland is very much open for business and the enterprise agencies will work with any company with a viable proposal in the space sector.

Scotland is the best place to reach in demand space with vertical rockets, he explains.

He adds: "Our ambition is to have at least one spaceport in Britain."

Image source, UK SPACE AGENCY

The Scottish space industry is big - and growing.

While Scotland makes up less than 9% of the UK population it accounts for 18% of jobs in the UK space industry.

More than 100 private and public organisations have created almost 7,000 jobs and are contributing more than £130m to the Scottish economy

In the last two years Glasgow has built more satellites than any other city in Europe.

Read more here.

Innovation Minister Ivan McKee begins by saying these are "exciting times" for the space sector and Scotland is ready to take advantage of it.

Nearly a fifth of all UK space jobs are in Scotland he tells the chamber.

When we talk of space we may think of massive rocket launches, but the sector comprises of much more Mr McKee states.

Energy provision through solar panels in space, asteroid prospecting and other ideas that would have been science fiction in the past are now science fact he adds.

The minister says the new national manufacturing institute has a strong partnership with the sector.

Image source, Scottish Parliament

Image source, bbc

The Scottish government will now lead a debate entitled 'Building on Scotland’s Strengths in Technology and Engineering to Become Europe’s Leading Space Nation'

Lib Dem MSP Tavish Scott tells the chamber of a PhD students from Shetland currently studying abroad who is unsure about future fees.

We will potentially lose a Scot gaining the experience of studying overseas if she has to come home, he states.

Mr Lochhead says he has written to the UK government to allow participation like this to continue.

He agrees to update the member when possible.

Image source, bbc

Green MSP Ross Greer asks what work the Scottish government is doing on Erasmus+ and to protect college students and young Scots.

Mr Lochhead says the Scottish government is pressing for full participation in Erasmus+ going forward and no-deal threatens the programme.

Current students in Erasmus can complete their programme as guaranteed by the the EU, but the UK government must act, he says.

The minister says Mr Gray should be asking the UK government for clarity rather than the Scottish government.

We are very well aware of the potential impacts of EU students in Scotland if there is no deal, he states.

Mr Lochhead says the government is in "serious talks" with the sector to consider what can be done whatever the eventual outcome.

Image source, bbc

Labour MSP Iain Gray says the minister is right to criticise the UK government for this chaos.

Mr Gray adds the Scottish government did not cause this, but there are areas where they can act and reiterates the call for clarity.

Potential EU citizens need to have come certainty about their fee status in 2020-21, he says.

Mr Gray says the universities simply want a guarantee resources will not be removed from the higher education sector by the Scottish government.

He finishes asking why higher and further education funding was cut in the recent budget.

Mr Lochhead says there are a number of issues to take into account regarding university fees, and he highlights it would be disruptive if EU students were to suddenly become international students.

If we were to pay the fees of EU students for the following year, these students would not be able to work in Scotland after study as things stand he adds.

We're listening closely to the case being put forward by the further and higher education sectors but we need more clarity, the minister says.

Image source, bbc

Tory MSP Liz Smith says her party have expressed concerns about the challenges put by Brexit and says she has some sympathy with Mr Lochhead's statement.

Ms Smith welcomes the 2019-20 commitment on the fee status for EU citizens.

She asks for an update on when the fee status of EU students will be confirmed beyond that.

The Tory MSP asks if the £90m currently spent on EU citizens at universities will go back into that sector.

Image source, Getty images

Just over a year ago, the Scottish government extended the guarantee of free tuition for EU students to those starting in the 2019 to 2020 academic year.

Eligible students will have their fees met for the duration of their studies, even after the UK leaves the EU.

Ministers said this would provide confidence for prospective students as well as the certainty that universities need to plan ahead.

They said it was evidence that Scotland remains a "welcoming country".

Britain is scheduled to exit the EU in March 2019, two years after Theresa May sent the Article 50 letter.

• Read more here

Mr Lochhead confirms he has taken the concerns of staff and researchers directly to the European Commission.

He points to the Brexit Action Plan, external covering his portfolio published today.

Concluding, he asserts the Scottish government will continue to do all it can to protect the interests of Scotland's further and higher education sectors.

Image source, bbc

Mr Lochhead says: "If you left Scotland to study in the EU, and Brexit means you are forced to give up your studies, we guarantee to provide student support and tuition fees to eligible students so you can study here in Scotland."

The minister pivots to EU citizens currently studying here and says the Scottish government have already committed to providing tuition fees for eligible EU students commencing their studies in academic year 2019-20.

The Scottish government is seeking to provide much needed clarity where it can, he says.

Mr Lochhead adds the interests of staff and researchers in negotiations with the UK government will be fully represented.