§ Mr. RogersTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what talks his Department has had regarding(a) offset arrangements or investments or (b) other topics with foreign tank manufacturers in the past year; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Alan ClarkThe Defence Export Services Organisation has negotiated an industrial participation (offset banking) memorandum of understanding with General Dynamics, the purpose of which is to encourage the US company to offer the British defence industry opportunities to bid for a share of the work on all General Dynamics' major defence programmes.
We have also had discussions on industrial participation with foreign tank manufacturers bidding for the Army Chieftain replacement programme. A formal agreement with Krauss Maffei is already in place.