§ 30. Mr. Cartwrightasked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will make a statement on the progress made towards assisting British participation in strategic defence initiative research.
§ Mr. LeeFollowing signature on 6 December 1985 of the US/UK Memorandum of Understanding on United Kingdom participation in the United States SDI research programme, a United Kingdom SDI participation office was set up in the Ministry of Defence with as its main task the provision of assistance to British firms and research organisations seeking involvement in the programme.
To this end, the SDI PO, working closely with the British embassy, Washington, and the United States SDI organisation in the United States Department of Defence, has built up and is now further developing a detailed knowledge of the content and direction of the United States research programme; is helping to identify bidding opportunities for British firms and research organisations; and is advising them on the terms anc conditions for United Kingdom participation set out in the MoU and supporting administrative arrangements. Large-scale briefings on these matters were given in mid-February and mid-March to a total of some 200 British firms and research organisations, and a further briefing was given in late March in Washington DC to a large audience of United States and United Kingdom industrialists and United States contracting officials. More specialised briefings are given to individual firms and research organisations, both UK and US, virtually every day.
Written guidelines on participation have now been circulated to British firms and research organisations; and a copy has been placed in the Library of the House.
Negotiations are at a very advanced stage between the United States and United Kingdom Governments on a US-funded European architecture study. Other business arrangements are in various stages of negotiation, across a broad spectrum of research topics.
§ 36. Mr. Wallaceasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give the total value of the strategic defence initiative orders won by United Kingdom firms.