Meteor (Hansard, 17 July 2001)

§ Mr. Quentin Davies
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the Meteor programme and its development contract. [3517]

§ Dr. Moonie
The UK, France and Sweden signed the Meteor Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) at the Paris Air Show. We very much hope that the remaining three partner nations will sign the MOU by the end of September 2001. On that basis, we plan to place a demonstration and manufacture contract for Meteor by the end of 2001, subject to agreeing satisfactory terms with Matra BAe Dynamics, the Prime Contractor.

§ Mr. Quentin Davies
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects all partner nations to sign the memoranda of understanding on the A400M and the Meteor programme. [3524]

§ Dr. Moonie
We very much hope that all partner nations will have signed the memorandum of understanding by the end of September 2001.