§ Mr. Newensasked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total cost of maintaining the British military commitment in Oman for each year since 1965; and if he will estimate, in the light of the defence review, the cost for the next financial year.
§ Mr. William RodgersAnnual figures are not readily available but the total cost over the last 10 years was about £25 million, the greater part of which was attributable to maintaining the RAF staging post at Masirah. Appropriate provision for 1975–6 will be sought in the Estimates but is expected to be at about the same annual rate.