Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential risks posed to national security by investments in UK defence companies by foreign (a) state-owned enterprises and (b) sovereign wealth funds; and if he will make a statement.

As made clear in our white paper National Security Through Technology (Cm 8278) published in February 2012, we will take action in the commercial market place to protect the UK's operational advantages and freedom of action where this is essential for our national security.

In a free market we welcome both domestic and foreign investment in our defence industry. Assessments of potential risk associated with ownership activity are carried out on a case by case basis.