§ Mr. Ashdownasked the Prime Minister whether she was informed in advance by President Reagan of his willingness to hand over strategic defence initiative technology to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics; and why the United States is refusing to transfer the same technology to the United Kingdom.
§ The Prime MinisterPresident Reagan has referred on several occasions to the possibility of sharing with the Russians technology arising from the strategic defence initiative research programme. For its part, the United Kingdom has had intensive discussions with the United States about participation in the research programme. A statement will be made about this at the appropriate time.