HC Deb 08 July 1996 vol 281 cc27-8W
Mr. MacShane

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list each current joint programme or initiative being undertaken with the French Ministry of Defence. [35737]

Mr. Soames

Full information on such programmes is not held centrally. The following comprises the bulk of co-operative programmes, in which the French armed services are involved with our armed services:

Organisations/groupings

  • North Atlantic Treaty Organisation
  • United Nations
  • Western European Union
  • Organisation for Security Cooperation in Europe
  • Partnership for Peace
  • Franco British Euro Air Group

Twinning arrangements

  • 3 Commando Brigade/9th Division Infanterie de Marine
  • UK Field Army/Force d'Action Rapide
  • Many units organise their own affiliations.

Nuclear

Joint Nuclear Commission

Bilateral training

  • Bilateral exercise
  • Staff College places
  • Squadron Exchanges (NATO Programme)
  • Operational Sea Training—Joint Maritime Course
  • 60 exchange/liaison officers on attachment between British and French units.

Defence research

  • European Cooperative Long Term Initiative for Defence (EUCLID)
  • FINABEL
  • Anglo-French Defence Research Group—controls 14 separate Working Groups.
  • Anglo-French Future Land Systems Study Group.
  • Anglo-French Army Equipment Commission.

Equipment issues

  • Multi-Launch Rocket System Phase 1
  • Milan Anti-Tank missile
  • Jaguar
  • Lynx
  • Puma
  • Gazelle
  • Future Large Aircraft
  • RTM322 Helicopter Engine
  • Navstar Global Positioning System
  • COBRA (Counter Battery Radar)
  • Aimed Control Effect Anti-Tank Mine
  • Medium Range Third Generation Anti-Tank Guided Weapon (TRIGAT)
  • Long Range TRIGAT
  • ADA Computer Language Project Support Environment Allied Data Systems Interoperability Agency
  • Project HORIZON
  • NATO Improved Link Eleven
  • Future Tank Main Armament
  • Very Short Range and Short Range Air Defence System Programme
  • Principal Anti-Air Missile Systems
  • Allied Standard Avionics Architecture Initiative
  • Active Electronically Scanned Radar
  • Advanced AeroEngine Technology
  • Future Military Satellite for Communications
  • Battlefield Information/Intelligence Compilation Exploitation /System (BICES)
  • Computer Aided Acquisitions and Logistic Support
  • NATO Submarine Rescue System

Mr. MacShane

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many meetings(a) he has (b) other Defence Ministers have had with their French counterparts in the last 12 months. [35738]

Mr. Soames

As one would expect, Defence Ministers have met their French counterparts in bilateral and multilateral forums on numerous occasions over the past 12 months.