Oral question asked in the House of Lords, by Lord Cobbold (Crossbench). It was answered on Monday, 25 June 2007.

Armed Forces: Future Aircraft Carrier

Question: My Lords, what is the status of negotiations with France on the aircraft carriers?

Answer: My Lords, we agreed at the end of 2005 to work with France in licensing to it the design rights to the aircraft carriers. As it was able to use our work on its own aircraft carrier, it agreed to pay one-third of the costs through the development phase. That collaboration has gone well. We have been able to maintain the pace and cost of the British project without any negative impacts because of the structure of that collaboration with France.

Secondary information