§ Lord Kennetasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether, other things (including performance, cost, duration, length of life, capability and transportability) being equal, they now prefer joint weapons production (a) with Western Europe or (b) 15WA with the United States as opposed to wholly British manufacture.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Earl Howe)We pursue defence equipment collaboration with our European allies and with the United States when such collaboration offers value for money and satisfies our military requirements. There is no question of a general preference for either of these collaborative routes or for wholly British manufacture: securing best value for money continues to determine procurement strategy. In a limited number of cases wholly British production of equipment is necessary for reasons of national security.