To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much he expects the UK to receive from France’s purchase of the Future Aircraft Carrier design; and what the schedule is for payment of this sum. (167368)

[holding answer 26 November 2007]: Under the Memorandum of Understanding on Co-operation signed with France the UK has received £70 million from France in respect of the shared Future Aircraft carrier design. A final payment of £45 million is conditional on France’s decision to manufacture a carrier based on the Common Baseline Design.