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Ministry of Defence

Answer

Mr. Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations she has made to the US Administration about (a) requirements to produce US defense equipment in the USA, (b) restrictions on foreign content in defence exports with military sales support, (c) technology export controls and (d) limits on control of US subsidiaries by UK companies; and what the outcome of such representations has been. [157050] Mr. Hoon: I have been asked to reply. Ministerial colleagues and I expressed concerns last year about legislative proposals before Congress to impose further restrictions on overseas procurements to meet the United States' defense requirements. The legislation subsequently enacted did not include the proposals of most concern to us. Steps are regularly taken to press the case for United Kingdom companies to receive fair access to programmes for the supply of US-sourced equipment for third parties under foreign military sales arrangements. The licensing of US technology for export to the UK has been discussed with the US Administration in the context of proposals for a UK waiver from the International Traffic in Arms Regulations. On this I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 18 December 2003, Official Report, column 1066W. The matter of controls on foreign investment in the US has recently been raised with the US Administration by DTI Ministers. The Administration has given reassurances that the US would take proper account of the UK/US relationship in their case-by-case consideration.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

418 c1503-5W;418 c1505-7W; 157050

Session

2003-04

Subjects

Arms trade Defence equipment Export controls Procurement USA

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk