§ Mr. Corbettasked the Secretary of State for Defence whether serving members of the armed forces of foreign Powers are charged for their attendance at Service training courses at United Kingdom defence establishments; and, if so, what was the total sum received from which countries for the training of which personnel by rank and service in 1974 and 1975.
§ Mr. MasonThe greater part of the training given to serving members of the armed forces of foreign Powers attending Service training courses at United Kingdom defence establishments is financed by the overseas Governments concerned although help is given in some cases under the United Kingdom Military Training Assistance Scheme. Overall we seek to recover at least the extra costs involved. Receipts for training amounted to about £5.5 million in the financial year 1973–74 and about £7.5 million in the financial 363W year 1974–75. It is not the practice to disclose details of individual financial arrangements between Her Majesty's Government and overseas countries. The number training was about 6,500 in 1974 and about 7,500 in 1975. Information about such personnel by rank and service could not be provided without disproportionate effort.
§ Mr. Corbettasked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will now revise the practice of not disclosing the details of training courses at United Kingdom defence establishments arranged for serving members of the armed forces of foreign Powers in the interests of more open government.
§ Mr. MasonMy policy is to disclose information except where this would be inconsistent with the public interest.
§ Mr. Corbettasked the Secretary of State for Defence why it is not practice to give details of training courses attended by serving members of the armed forces of foreign Powers at United Kingdom defence establishments.
§ Mr. MasonIt is not the practice to disclose details where this would be inconsistent with the public interest.