§ Mr. Gerald HowarthTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what areas are considered by his Department to be key industrial capabilities which the UK defence industry must maintain. [170744]
§ Mr. IngramThe Government's Defence Industrial Policy, published in October 2002, is aimed at enhancing the competitiveness and sustainability of the UK Defence industry, while continuing to provide the armed force with high quality equipment at best value for money. There are a very small number of capabilities which for national security reasons we place a high priority on retaining within the United Kingdom industrial base. Examples exist in the fields of nuclear technology, defence against biological, chemical and radiological warfare, and some counter-terrorist capabilities.