To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps his Department is taking to improve defence technology co-operation between the UK and US.

The Strategic Defence and Security Review published on 19 October 2010 emphasised that the US remains the UK's primary strategic collaborator. We are currently strengthening our collaborative engagement with the US by increasing the proportion of our research programme undertaken on a collaborative basis in a number of key areas.

The UK/US Defence Trade Cooperation Treaty was brought into force in 2012 to facilitate closer UK/US cooperation, including between our industries. The Treaty simplifies transfer arrangements between the US and UK for certain categories of technology, when destined for UK and US Government end-use, and seeks to improve interoperability and the delivery of capability to our armed forces.

US-UK cooperation on nuclear technology continues to be enhanced through the 1958 Mutual Defence Agreement.