§ Mr. Michael McNair-Wilsonasked the Secretary of State for Defence how much in total his Department will pay in insurance during the current financial year; and if he will publish a functional breakdown of the total amount.
§ Mr. PattieIt is long-established Government policy not to pay a commercial insurance premium unless there is a statutory or contractual obligation or a particular advantage—such as a specialist service—over and above the possible receipt of compensation for loss. For this reason, expenditure on insurance by the Ministry of Defence amounts to only some£15,000 in the current year.