HL Deb 30 June 1988 vol 498 cc1820-1WA
Lord Kennet

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many British firms, and which, have submitted technologies and systems for evaluation for possible use in an "allied theatre missile defence system" in the US Army Strategic Defense Command "Invite, Show and Test" programme (IS&T), whether this programme is under Strategic Defense Initiative auspices, what other countries' firms are taking part, to whom the technologies and systems are intended to be made available, and whether any export to or collaboration with non-NATO governments or firms—as for instance in the Israeli "Arrow" programme—would be fully and exclusively at the discretion of the British Government.

Lord Trefgarne

The US Army Strategic Defense Command "Invite, Show and Test" (IS&T) programme is taking place under Strategic Defense Initiative auspices. Awards to date are believed to have gone only to US and to UK companies. Several UK companies have submitted proposals; and British Aerospace, Plessey Radar, and Shorts have received awards. The Israeli "Arrow" programme is not part of IS&T; nor is the UK Government involved in "Arrow". The other parts of the noble Lord's Question do not at present arise: if and when they were to arise, they would be handled in accordance with contemporary policies and arrangements, including those of the US-UK Memorandum of Understanding concerned with UK participation in the US SDI research programme.