To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assurances he has received from his US counterpart that a STOVL variation of the joint strike fighter (F35B) will be included in the build programme. (138002)

The US remains committed to production of the short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) variant and requests for funding for STOVL aircraft are included in the current Presidential Budget which is before Congress. The first development STOVL aircraft is being assembled and is on target to achieve first flight in 2008.