Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the effect of his Department's procurement of new Multi-Role Vehicles (Protected) on jobs in the UK; and if he will make a statement.

The Multi-Role Vehicle - Protected programme is being delivered in two packages. For package One, Command, Liaison and Logistic vehicles, the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle manufactured by Oshkosh has been identified as the preferred option. No final decisions have yet been made.

For package Two, Troop Carrying Vehicles and Future Protected Battlefield Ambulances, a competition is on-going which includes General Dynamics UK Ltd and Thales UK Ltd.

We have regular discussions with industry about this programme. For both of these packages, it is still too early in the procurement process to comment on potential UK jobs.