§ Dr. TongeTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions his Department has had with UK firms bidding for work on the US-initiated programme of national missile Defence; and if he will make a statement. [53597]
§ Mr. BradshawThe Foreign and Commonwealth Office has not had any direct discussions with UK firms in relation to specific bids related to current US proposals for missile defence. Staff at the British embassy in Washington regularly give general advice to UK firms wishing to do business with the US Department of Defense (including the Missile Defense Agency) but have not had any discussions on specific bids on the US missile defence programme.