To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what research has been undertaken into the threat posed by the use of electromagnetic pulse weapons; what steps have been taken to protect against the effects of such weapons; and if he will make a statement. [111231]

Research programmes have been undertaken since the mid 1980s into the threat posed by electromagnetic energy, including high power microwave and radio frequency sources, to both military and civil electronics-rich systems. This research has produced guidelines and procedures to alleviate these effects, by using good equipment fabrication practice, shielding techniques and hardened circuit design.