Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what proportion of the workshare for support and maintenance contracts for the Wedgetail fleet he plans to be undertaken by UK-based companies.

While a final investment decision has not yet been made, the Ministry of Defence is working closely with Boeing to ensure they explore how Britain's defence industry could also benefit from any procurement. Boeing has confirmed that it would plan to establish an assembly line in Cambridge for the integration of the radar and aircraft, and that it would be their intent to use such a line to fulfil orders for other nations should they be secured. Through-life, we anticipate that support and training would be undertaken within the UK, directly leading to UK jobs.