§ Mr. Gerald Howarth:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what part the development of a research-linked European security policy will play in future British security policy. [130806]
§ Mr. Hoon:The European Commission has yet to define precisely the content of its proposed "Preparatory Action on the enhancement of European industrial potential in the field of security research". It is therefore too early to assess whether any security research programme emerging from this will influence British defence or security policies.