Lords Committee Question Secretary of State for Defence on British-French Defence Cooperation
1 February 2011
The House of Lords EU Sub-Committee for Foreign Affairs, Defence and Development Policy questioned the Rt Hon Dr Liam Fox MP, Secretary of State for Defence, on Thursday 3 February.
The Committee asked the Secretary of State about arrangements for developing defence cooperation between Britain and France. In particular, Liam Fox MP was asked about both parties sustaining their commitment to defence cooperation and what the priorities for such coordination are.
Further areas on which the Committee questioned the Secretary of State on included:
• How decisions will be made on the joint deployment of combat forces
• The idea of training British air crew onboard French aircraft carriers
• The impact of the cooperation between Britain and France on NATO’s ability to respond to threats to European security
• The potential for France to open up its defence market to UK companies