To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the UK-specific software programming is for the F-35B Lightning II programme, as detailed in paragraph 3.4, page 38 of the National Audit Office report, Delivering Carrier Strike, published on 16 March 2017.

The UK specific software programming referred to the in para 3.4, p38 of the National Audit Office report, Delivering Carrier Strike, published on 16 March 2017 refers to Mission Data Load software required by each F-35 Lightning that is pertinent to each theatre of operations. This is in accordance with how we routinely operate our combat aircraft. The UK will provide the Mission Data Load software for its own F-35 Lightning from the reprogramming laboratory it shares with Australia.