§ Mr. Gwilym Robertsasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the latest figures available for the contribution per head by residents in the Isle of Man to defence and general services; and how this compares with the contribution to defence per head by citizens of the United Kingdom generally.
§ Mr. Joel BarnettThe voluntary contribution that the Isle of Man makes annually under section 1 of the Isle of Man Contribution Act 1956 towards United Kingdom expenditure on defence and other common services is estimated for 1978–79 as approximately £400,000. That would represent about £7 per head of resident population on the Island but is not properly comparable with United Kingdom expenditure per head on defence, information on which was conveyed in the answer given on 2 February by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence to the hon. Member for Lichfield and Tamworth (Mr. Grocott). —[Vol. 961, c. 566–67.]