Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions (a) ministers and (b) officials in his Department have had with US Air Forces in Europe – United Kingdom on the Local National Direct Hire programme.

The Secretary of State for Defence and Defence Officials have regular engagements on a wide range of Defence topics with their US counterparts.

The Local National Direct Hire Programme is a United States’ programme, and it is for the US to determine how they wish to support their mission. Defence officials provide UK sponsorship for the security clearance of UK individuals hired under the US Local National Direct Hire Programme. There is no further planned engagement on this programme.