§ Lord Kennetasked Her Majesty's Government:
How they have evaluated the political implications of the approaching large-scale defence procurements; and, following those procurements, how they propose to make sure that the United Kingdom's defence business relationship with the United States is balanced.
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The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Earl Howe)Whether it is appropriate to do so, international political considerations are taken into account, along with all other relevant factors, in our procurement decision-making process. These are geared to providing the necessary equipment which offers the best overall value for money for our Armed Forces. Her Majesty's Government will continue to promote on a regular basis the need for a visible two-way street in defence trade between the UK and the US, and in particular the need for reciprocal market access, giving UK industry a fair chance to compete for US requirements.