HL Deb 15 December 1987 vol 491 cc713-4WA
Lord Kennet

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the United Kingdom is to be allowed by the United States to build nuclear submarines for the Canadian Government.

Lord Trefgarne

We are discussing with the Canadian Government its possible purchase of Trafalgar class nuclear-powered submarines. The United States Government has agreed, under the terms of the US/UK Agreement for Co-operation in the Uses of Atomic Energy for Mutual Defence Purposes of 1958 (Cmnd. 537 (as amended)), to the transfer of certain information required by Canada in order to make a fully informed decision. Any transfer of equipment and materials to Canada would require amendments to United States legislation, involving Congressional approval. I can, of course, anticipate neither this nor the possible outcome of the competitive Canadian procurement process.