§ Mr. Gerald HowarthTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what effect he expects the sale of GKN's shares in Augusta Westland to Finmeccancia of Italy will have on the completion date of the assessment phase for the Lynx replacement; and when he expects to make a decision on the awarding of the contract for that programme. [177594]
§ Mr. IngramThe sale of GKN's shares in Augusta Westland will have little effect on the completion date of the assessment phase of the Battlefield Light Utility Helicopter/Surface Combatant Maritime Rotorcraft programmes. The assessment phase is currently scheduled to complete later this year. The decision on the future of these programmes is most likely to be made early in 2005.