§ 130. Mr. Rankinasked the Minister of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the total cost of keeping British troops on the Rhine during the period 1970–75; and what sum the German Government has agreed to contribute towards reducing this expenditure.
§ Lord BalnielFigures for local defence expenditure by British Forces in Germany in 1970–71 and 1971–72 have been published in the Statement on the Defence Estimates 1971. It is not the practice to publish forecast figures for the future.
As regards offset arrangements there is nothing to add for the present to my written answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Poole (Mr. Murton) on 17th February.—[Vol. 811, c. 504–5.]