§ 4. Mr. Shinwellasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will state the number of civilians employed by United Kingdom forces in Germany who are German citizens, and the annual expenditure involved.
§ The Minister of Defence for the Royal Navy (Mr. Christopher Mayhew)About 30,500, at an annual cost of about £22½ million. In addition, the Ministry of Public Building and Works employs about 5,300 local civilians in Germany on work for the Forces at an annual cost of about £4½ million, but the form in which the Ministry's records are kept does not make it possible to exclude those who are not German citizens without an undue expenditure of effort.
§ Mr. ShinwellIn view of the heavy costs which are a burden on this country, if my right hon. Friend is unable to persuade the German Government to increase their contribution to support costs, would he withdraw one or even two of the battalions from Germany and perhaps send them to County Durham and absorb some of the more than 26,000 civilians unemployed there?
§ Mr. MayhewWe are hoping for further negotiations about support costs. Reducing B.A.O.R. is a matter for the defence review.
§ Mr. LiptonIs the number of civilians employed in this way going up or down as compared with previous years?
§ Mr. MayhewI should need notice of that question.