asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether principal United Kingdom contractors in the Joint Strike Fighter project have confirmed to them that the arrangements now in place on a government-to-government basis will ensure all necessary access on the part of such contractors to the source codes for the avionics of the aircraft. [HL856]

The UK Government have obtained the required assurances that our operational sovereignty requirements will be met. These assurances are contained in a classified bilateral supplement to the production, sustainment and follow-on development memorandum of understanding which not only covers arrangements for UK Government but provides appropriate access for UK industry in order to execute those elements of the Joint Strike Fighter programme for which they are responsible.