§ Mrs. EwingTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received with regard to co-operating with EC and NATO allies in the research and development of new weapons systems; and if he will make a statement. [4988]
§ Mr. ArbuthnotMy Department pursues international collaboration on the research and development of equipment as an efficient means of achieving value for money in defence procurement. Details are provided in the Statement on the Defence Estimates 1995, paragraphs 436 to 438. My officials actively participate in a wide variety of collaborative arrangements and multilateral programmes. Opportunities for collaboration on research are identified in the NATO defence research group and in the Western European armaments group's EUCLID—European Co-operation for the Long Term in Defence—programme. Details can be found on page 57 of volume 2 of this year's "Forward Look on Government-funded Science, Engineering and Technology", a copy of which is available in the Library of the House.