To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 12 December 2006, on the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF), (1) if the Government will make it a condition of purchasing JSF that the purchased aircraft must be assembled and checked out in the UK; (109708)

[holding answer 18 December 2006]: The Government have received assurances on technology transfer for Joint Strike Fighter (JSF), that would provide for a final assembly and check-out (FACO) facility for JSF in the UK. However, we have not yet decided whether to invest in a UK-based FACO facility. We are considering all aspects of the case, including costs and industrial skills. Should we decide to invest in such a facility, we shall discuss appropriate arrangements with JSF partners.

The UK will remain the only ‘level 1’ partner in the System Development and Demonstration phase of the JSF programme until that phase’s conclusion in 2013. The next phase, Production, Sustainment and Follow- on Development, of which the Memorandum of Understanding signed on 12 December sets the framework, does not have any such ‘tier’ structure. The Memorandum of Understanding signed on 12 December, which sets the framework for PSFD, is a multilateral document common to all participants. The UK’s specific requirements, including the assurances on technology transfer, are listed in a classified bilateral annexe.