HC Deb 28 January 2000 vol 343 c379W
Mr. Cohen

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reasons his Department decided not to contribute to France's Helios 2 project. [104320]

Mr. Kilfoyle

The MOD has neither sought nor received any proposals for direct UK participation in, or contribution to, France's Helios 2 programme. The UK, as a member of the Western European Union, is considering the potential of a number of satellite observation programmes to meet WEU requirements. The Helios 2 programme may be offered to meet these requirements.