§ 39. Mr. Evelyn Kingasked the Secretary of State for Defence how many Service personnel are seconded for service to the Zambian Government; for what purpose and at what cost to the British Government.
§ Mr. HealeyIn January of this year the number of Servicemen on loan to the Zambian Government was 140. As the 403 House was informed on 25th June, the Zambian Government have requested that the British joint Services training team should be withdrawn at the end of this year and personnel have been phased out as tours of duty have expired. The Army element was, in fact, phased out by July of this year. The number of R.A.F. personnel on loan at 30th September was 65, and these will be phased out by the end of the year. The training team has been helping with the training and development of the Zambian Army and Air Force. The contribution by Her Majesty's Government to the total cost of this assistance during the current financial year is likely to be in the region of £300,000.—[Vol. 785, c. 1477–8.]