§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the joint inquiry into aspects of United Kingdom defence procurement and industrial policy will be completed; and if this inquiry will look specifically at areas which have been affected by a decline in defence spending; what was the cost of previous inquiries into this area in the last five years; and what is the projected cost of the current inquiry. [17376]
§ Mr. FreemanI assume the hon. Member is referring to the recent joint inquiry set up by the House of Commons Defence Select Committee and the Trade and Industry Select Committee into aspects of defence procurement and industrial policy. The timing, scope and costs of such inquiries are matters for the Committees.