FRANCE
Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent progress has been made on Franco-British defence co-operation; and if he will make a statement. [120253]
Mr Robathan, Minister of State: The three strands of defence co-operation with France set out in the Lancaster House treaties of 2010 remain on track and we continue to work closely with the French Government and armed forces at all levels.
Our military to military links are being reinforced by the arrival of additional exchange officers in France and their counterparts in the UK. Exercise Corsican Lion in October 2012 will be a major naval exercise that will demonstrate the combined power of both nations' armed forces and help to enhance interoperability.
In July we signed two agreements with France to enable co-operation on Unmanned Air Systems (drones). Other areas of equipment co-operation include missiles, maritime mine countermeasures, A400M transport aircraft support, satellite communications, and submarine technologies.
We continue to make progress on the second treaty relating to collaboration on hydro-dynamics research. The planned Teutates Technology Development Centre, is to be built at the Atomic Weapons Establishment Aldermaston, and the Teutates Epure facility, is to be built in Valduc, France. These have now moved from the concept phase to the assessment phase with "initial gate" approval. We expect they will be operational from 2015.