§ Lord Kennetasked Her Majesty's Government:
How they reconcile their decisions to buy a United States Apache Helicopter (to be part assembled in the United Kingdom) and a United States Tomahawk Cruise Missile, and to participate in the United States Joint Advanced Strike Technology Programme for a possible successor to Tornado or Sea Harrier (all in addition to the United States Trident Missiles) with their commitment to demonstrate that Britain is withdrawing from "the heart of European Defence" [H.L. Deb, 14.7.95, col. 2002].
Earl HoweThe Government's policy is to be at the heart of European defence. They also recognise the increasing importance of European equipment collaboration and reciprocal purchasing to their aim of achieving the best value for money in procurement. Accordingly, there is extensive procurement collaboration with European partners— the 1995 Statement on the Defence Estimates lists 32 collaborative projects involving France and/or Germany. But it would not be in the best interests of the United Kingdom or Europe to reject procurement from the United States, which is a source of sometimes unique equipment and an important British defence export market, where, as in the cases cited, consideration of all relevant factors indicates that it provides the best value for money.