§ Mr. Newensasked the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the total number of German citizens employed by the British Army of the Rhine in each of the past five years and the annual cost of wages, salaries and other benefits.
§ Mr. HealeyThe total number of locally engaged civilians employed by the British Army of the Rhine in each of the past five years together with the cost of their wages, salaries and other benefits is as follows:
Year Non-Industrial Industrial Cost 1961–62 8,471 30,672 1962–63 8,517 29,954 1963–64 7,717 25,832 £22,863,000 1964–65 7,592 24,774 £22,996,000 1965–66 7,280 23,559 £21,730,000 It is not possible to say exactly how many are German citizens though the great majority will be. I regret that the costs for 1961–62 and 1962–63 are not readily available.
§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the estimated cost in German marks of employing West German civilians with the British Army of the Rhine for each of the next five years, on the present strength.
§ Mr. HealeyThe current cost of employing locally engaged civilians, most of whom are West Germans, with the British Army of the Rhine is about £21.7 million, all of which represents expenditure in German marks. Given present civilian strengths, this would be the figure for each of the next five years, but it does not allow for any future pay increases.
§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the estimated cost in German marks of employing West German civilians with the British Army of the Rhine for each of the last five years.
§ Mr. Healey£22,863,000 was spent on the employment of locally engaged civilians, mostly West Germans, in 1963–64, £22,996,000 in 1964–65, and it is estimated that £21,730,000 will be spent in 1965–66. These figures all involve expenditure in German marks. I regret that figures are not available for earlier years.
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§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Defence how many West German civilians are employed by the British Army of the Rhine; and in what capacities they are so employed.
§ Mr. HealeyThe total number of locally employed civilians with the British Army of the Rhine is nearly 31,000, of whom the majority are West Germans. They are employed on essential administrative tasks in support of our military forces.
§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Defence how many West German civilians have been employed by the British Army of the Rhine during each of the last five years.
§ Mr. Healey39,143 locally engaged civilians, mostly West Germans, were employed by the British Army of the Rhine in 1961, 38,471 in 1962, 33,549 in 1963, 32,366 in 1964, and 30,839 in 1965.
§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the cost of employing West German civilians attached to the British Army of the Rhine over each of the last five years.
§ Mr. HealeyThe figures, which are available only for the last three years, are for 1963–64 £22,863,000, for 1964–65 £22,996,000 and for 1965–66 £21,730,000. These figures cover the costs of all locally engaged civilians with the British Army of the Rhine some of whom are not West Germans.