§ Mr. CousinsTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what contribution he has made to the costs of the joint strike fighter project of the United States and in which year those costs were incurred; what were the financial terms of the contribution; and under what circumstances the contribution can be reclaimed. [8511]
§ Mr. ArbuthnotThe Ministry of Defence has contributed $13,022,539 to the United States joint strike fighter programme. These costs were incurred this year. We have agreed to contribute a total of $200 million to the programme between 1996 and 2000. This contribution represents 10 per cent. of the cost of work related to the short take-off, vertical landing variant of the aircraft during the concept demonstration phase of the programme. We expect British companies to gain work of at least equivalent value in this phase of the programme. The terms of the United Kingdom's contribution are set down in a memorandum of understanding with the United States Department of Defence which was signed in December 1995, a copy of which was placed in the Library of the House. We do not currently envisage any circumstances under which the United Kingdom's contribution would be reclaimed although continuation of work on the programme is subject to evidence of satisfactory progress.