Arms Trade: Trade Agreements
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of pursuing Government to Government agreements on defence exports.
Answered by Maria Eagle
The United Kingdom’s defence industry produces world class capabilities for our Armed Forces, allies and partners. His Majesty’s Government (HMG) remains committed to supporting and enabling the UK defence industry to export, recognising the benefits such exports can bring to the UK defence industry, HMG, and the purchasing nation.
We recognise that in some instances countries may wish to procure via a Government to Government agreement, and doing so can enable the UK to offer access to exports through the assured processes of our delivery agents such as Defence Equipment & Support, as well as generating a wider relationship beyond the procurement of military equipment to allies and partners e.g. training and development.
For this reason, HMG is developing an improved Government to Government offer and will bring forward a Defence Industrial Strategy to support growth and strengthen both the UK defence industry and HMG’s relationships with allies and partners.
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