This is really a question for British astronomers and space-enthusiasts, or those knowledgeable about British involvement in spaceflight (I hesitate to call it a space programme).

I recall a while back, perhaps October last year, that the Royal Astronomical Society had commissioned a three-man independent panel to report on the advisability of continuing the current UK policy ban on funding manned spaceflight - which, amongst other things, makes us the only major EU country to not have members in ESA's astronaut corps.

Does anybody know what the response to that report was by the government? Has it been adopted as a policy or does it seem to have gome the same way as hundreds of other reports that never seem to garner a response?

On top of that, does anybody know generally the probabilities and current standing behind a lift on the UK policy ban?

While personally I'm heavily, heavily in favour of emphasis on robotic, umanned, science-heavy missions - I'd still like a British astronaut to accompany any future ESA mission to the Moon or Mars. I'm very glad we have no involvement in the ISS - what an albatross - but it seems to reflect very badly on the country that the only British astronauts have had to enter space under the flag of another country.

Any comments or answers for me?

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If a man is offered a fact which goes against his instincts, he will scrutinize it closely, and unless the evidence is overwhelming, he will refuse to believe it. If, on the other hand, he is offered something which affords a reason for acting in accordance to his instincts, he will accept it even on the slightest evidence. The origin of myths is explained in this way.
-- Bertrand Russell (1872-1970)

There is a British manned space program, and it's being financed by Richard Branson. Unfortunately for the UK, it's being launched from New Mexico. Admittedly, the first flights will be sub-orbital, but that's more than the UK government has accomplished. Since I'm 71 years old, I may not live to see privately financed trips to the Moon and planets, but it's going to happen.

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The Spaceship Company?

Or its primary customer Virgin Galactic?

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Well, I suppose that Branson is trying to accomplish space tourism is one thing; but private sub-orbital tours is only really good in terms of long-term space 'colonisation' and it's only baby-steps at that.

I've scoured the internet but can't seem to find a single thing mentioning a response to the RAS report on lifting the policy ban on funding manned spaceflight. I think it'd be a real shame if the UK decided to remain completely uninvolved in it - it probably isn't good for convincing those interested in space-related jobs to stay in the country either.

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If a man is offered a fact which goes against his instincts, he will scrutinize it closely, and unless the evidence is overwhelming, he will refuse to believe it. If, on the other hand, he is offered something which affords a reason for acting in accordance to his instincts, he will accept it even on the slightest evidence. The origin of myths is explained in this way.
-- Bertrand Russell (1872-1970)