§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to make an announcement concerning the contract for a conventionally armed stand-off missile; how many missiles are to be purchased; and what criteria he will use in making his decision. [32652]
§ Mr. Arbuthnot[holding answer 13 June 1996]I hope to be in a position to announce the successful bid for the conventionally armed stand off missile competition shortly. The quantity of missiles being procured is classified information and cannot be released. Many factors have been considered during our assessment, including industrial factors the total cost to public funds, operational effectiveness, and such technical aspects as performance, reliability and compatibility with our delivery aircraft.