§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on policy with regard to the Memorandum of Understanding on mutual communications support between the United Kingdom and the United States of America, signed at Washington on 22 and 28 November 1988. [100345]
§ Mr. Hoon[holding answer 29 November 1999]: In recognition of the importance of communications interoperability in naval operations and the benefits of providing mutual communications support, the Royal Navy and the United States Navy have agreed a Memorandum of Understanding. This sets out the procedures and provisions for mutual communications support including message receipt, handling relay, reformatting, delivery, transmission or retransmission and any related supplies and services, the provision of which was not for the direct and primary benefit of the Navy providing the support.