Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the length is of the UK's contract with the F35 global spare parts pool; and when that contract ends.

The UK Government does not have a contract with the F-35 global spares pool. The prime contractors for the F-35 programme, [the US companies Lockheed Martin and Pratt & Whitney,] operate the F-35 global spares pool on behalf of the F35 programme, including the destination of specific spares and components.

The F-35 programme is a highly integrated programme, with the principle of cooperation lying at its heart.

If the UK Government were to withdraw from the F-35 global spares pool, it would effectively be withdrawing from the F-35 programme meaning that the UK would not be able to operate its F-35 fleet of aircraft.