§ Mr. MeacherTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if it is his policy to refer mergers between major United Kingdom defence contractors and foreign-owned or based companies to(a) the Prime Minister, (b) the Secret Intelligence Service, (c) the Security Service and (d) the Cabinet Office; and who formally sanctions such a merger.
§ Mr. FreemanMy Department is consulted by the appropriate regulatory authorities in cases likely to involve 563W the interests of the MOD and provides advice on how these would he affected by a proposed merger. The security implications of proposed mergers are considered and other authorities consulted as necessary.