HL Deb 16 October 1995 vol 566 c83WA
Lord Kennet

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether their decisions to buy a US helicopter, Apache, (to be part assembled in the UK), and a US Cruise Missile, Tomahawk, and to participate in the US JAST programme for a possible successor to Tornado and/or Sea Harrier (all in addition to the US Trident Missiles) are intended to demonstrate that Britain is withdrawing from "the heart of European defence" to which they had been committed (Earl Howe, HL Deb., 14th July 1995, col. 2002).

Earl Howe

No. The United Kingdom procures military equipment according to the principles of seeking the best value for money and of employing competition whenever possible. Purchases of equipment from the United States are made in accordance with these principles and do not indicate Britain's withdrawal from the heart of European defence. We continue to play an active role in the Western European Union and the Western European Armaments Group.