§ Mr. JenkinTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence when his Department intends to place in the Library the demonstration and manufacture contract for the Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air missile with MBDA. [31104]
§ Dr. Moonie[holding answer 29 January 2002]: The contract for the Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile is currently being negotiated. We do not expect it to be concluded before the summer. I do not plan to place a copy of the contract in the Library of the House as it will be a commercial agreement between the Ministry of Defence and the company MBDA, and will be withheld in accordance with Exemption 13 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. We do however intend publishing details of the contractual breakpoints in this contract, as stated by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence in his statement to the House on 16 May 2000.