Oral Answers to Questions

Ben Wallace Excerpts

Monday 26th November 2012 Commons Chamber

[Mr Dunne]

The hon. Lady should recognise that the decision to change the configuration of the aircraft carriers and the aircraft operating on them will save the taxpayer money.

[Mr Ben Wallace (Wyre and Preston North) (Con)]

The previous Government entered into the joint strike fighter agreement without securing the source access code to allow British manufacturers to make British products for our planes without having to go via the American prime contractor. Will the Minister update the House on what progress has been made in acquiring the very important source data?

[Mr Dunne]

My hon. Friend is well aware that the arrangements entered into whereby the UK became a tier-1 partner in the JSF programme mean that 15% of the aircraft’s components are manufactured in this country, securing more than 25,000 jobs.