Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he intends to exercise any contractual penalties against Lockheed Martin UK for the delays to the Crowsnest AEW helicopter programme.

The Ministry of Defence is currently withholding a portion of the contract price due to late delivery of the capability on the basis of the Schedule Performance not meeting the contracted milestones. This would become repayable on the achievement of full capability in line with the terms of the contract.

We continue to reserve our position with Lockheed Martin UK in respect of any further consideration relating to Contract performance.