Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make it his policy that the contract for the replacement of the Royal Air Force's E-3D Sentry AWACS aircraft will be subject to a process of competitive tender.

Any decision on the way forward for the Airborne Warning and Control System capability will be taken in the best interests of national security in the face of intensifying threats. It would be inappropriate to comment further at this time.