Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of the potential benefits of Italy’s participation in the Future Cruise/Anti-Ship Weapon programme.

The UK, with France, consider that Italian participation in the Future Cruise/Anti-Ship Weapon programme has the potential to reduce programme costs, increase supply chain resilience and generate wider prosperity opportunities. The Letter of Intent signed by the three nations at the Paris Air Show allows us to work together over the coming months to develop a more detailed, shared understanding of requirements, benefits and options. The indications from initial discussions are positive. Any formal decisions on Italian participation will be taken by the three nations during the programme's assessment phase which will complete in around 18 months.