Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made on the potential effect on his Department's budget initiating UK-only pogrammes for new weapon systems.

We strive to provide our Armed Forces with the capabilities they need at the best value for money, obtaining this through open competition in the global market wherever possible. We are ready to take a different approach, to protect our freedom of action or operational advantage, but, only where it is essential for national security. This always requires a careful balance of risk and opportunity cost.