§ Mr. Gerald HowarthTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with European partners on the development of European competition policy in the defence industry. [130807]
§ Mr. SutcliffeI have been asked to reply.
I have had no discussions on this issue with European partners. My hon. Friend the Minister for Employment Relations, Industry and the Regions represented the UK at the 13 May 2003 EU Competitiveness Council where the European Commission Communication of 11 March 2003, entitled "European Defence—Industrial and Market Issues: Towards an EU Defence Equipment Policy", was discussed. As a result, the European Commission plans to present its reflections on the application of competition rules in the defence sector for further discussion, possibly by the end of 2003.