Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent assessment he has made of the UK's bi-lateral military relationship with (a) Sweden and (b) Norway. [41818]

The Rt Hon Dr Liam Fox MP; Secretary of State [holding answer 28 February 2011]: The bi-lateral military relationships with both Sweden and Norway are continuously assessed by the Ministry of Defence, and captured in briefing and policy documents as required by Ministers and senior officials. Norway and Sweden are participants in the Northern Group initiative: as such, relations with both countries receive particularly frequent scrutiny.