§ Sir Nicholas BonsorTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 1 December,Official Report, column 606, what were the outline terms of the trinational memorandum of understanding with Germany and Italy governing the procurement of 155 mm ammunition for the FH70 gun; why primers manufactured in Germany were procured; what proportion of the ammunition originally procured under the terms of this MOU remains in service; whether ammunition for the AS90 is to be procured under the terms of the MOU; and when he now expects to place orders in the United Kingdom for further 155 mm ammunition.
§ Mr. AitkenThe trinational MOU with Germany and Italy for FH70, which was signed in 1970, covers the development, evaluation and production of a towed 155 mm howitzer and its ammunition—comprising the L15 HE shell, charges and primers. The MOU allocates work between the three Governments, giving responsibility for 897W production of primers to Germany. In fact, there is no alternative source of supply for these primers. Stocks of the same 155 mm ammunition were also purchased for use with the M109 gun and there is no differentiation in the current holdings of 155 mm ammunition between that originally procured for the FH70 and M109 guns. Therefore, it is not possible to state how much of the ammunition purchased for FH70 under the terms of the MOU remains in service. There have been no purchases of this 155 mm ammunition for several years. Ammunition for the AS90 howitzer will not be procured under the terms of this MOU, but under our normal procedures by competitive tender. Current purchases of 155 mm ammunition are limited to relatively small amounts for training; no major order for 155 mm ammunition is imminent. The country of manufacture of this ammunition will be determined by whichever company wins the contract to provide it.