Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to Written Statement of 9 October 2018, HCWS974 on Airborne Warning and Control System, on what basis his Department judged that the E-7 is likely to offer the best value for money for the UK.

The decision to begin single source discussions with Boeing was taken following the analysis of possible options available on the matter. This next step will enable us to more thoroughly evaluate whether the E-7 not only meets our requirements, but also offers value for money. I should, however, emphasise that no final decision has been taken, and that any procurement will be subject to the Ministry of Defence's usual stringent acquisition approvals process.