Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what processes are in place for his Department to consult with industry before entering international arrangements with the potential to lead to the disclosure of industry-supplied information.

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) will consider the industrial position carefully before entering any international arrangements with the potential to lead to the disclosure of industry-supplied information. The introduction of mandatory IP strategies as part of the DSIS will ensure that these issues are addressed for all projects from the earliest stages. MOD will engage with the relevant industry parties, in accordance with the terms of any relevant contract, wherever a disclosure of their information is under consideration, and will not make any such disclosure unless it has the right to do so or has obtained the prior agreement of the information owner.