Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the date was of (a) initial gate, (b) main gate and (c) contract signature was for the (i) A400M Training Service, (ii) Airseeker, (iii) Brimstone 2, (iv) Beyond Visual Range Air to Air Missile on Lightning II, (v) Common Missile Compartment, (vi) Core Production Capability, (vii) Crypto Enabling Services and (viii) De-Equip, Defuel and Layup Preparations Facility projects.

The dates for Initial Gate and, where completed, Main Gate and contract signature for each of the programmes and projects listed are provided in the attached table.

The contract signature date has been taken to refer to a post-Main Gate manufacture phase contract. Contract signature dates for any contracts let earlier in the Concept, Assessment, Development, Manufacturing, In-Service and Disposal (CADMID) cycle, such as those for Assessment or Demonstration phases, or contracts let for Long Lead items, have not been included. However, for those programmes where the information requested is not complete, a note on their current status has been provided.