HC Deb 23 February 1987 vol 111 cc143-4W
Mr. McNamara

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will provide a percentage breakdown of the amount of work to be allocated to the countries particpating in the European fighter aircraft project.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

For the development phase it has been agreed that work will be shared as follows:

Per cent.
United Kingdom 33
Germany 33
Italy 21
Spain 13

For production, workshares will be based on the number of aircraft each nation has declared as its offtake at the start of the production phase.

Mr. McNamara

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he estimates that any of the equipment for the European fighter aircraft will be subject to United States extra-territoriality restriction.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

We do not accept the validity of claims that United Kingdom defence equipment might be subject to the exra-territorial jurisdiction of another country.

Mr. McNamara

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) whether United States companies will be permitted to bid for contracts to provide avionics for the European fighter aircraft;

(2) whether West German subsidiaries of United States companies will be permitted to bid for contracts to provide inertial navigational systems for the European fighter aircraft.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

The involvement of companies from nations not participating in the European fighter aircraft is in principle permissible. In order to maximise the involvement of the participating nations, however, such companies would be encouraged to acquire a partner (or partners) from within these nations.