§ Mrs. BeckettTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence, further to his answer to the hon. Member for Newharn, North-West (Mr. Banks) dated 17 January,Official Report, column 547, on the Gulf crisis, if he will define operating costs as employed in that answer.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonFull operating cost comprise two sorts of cost: those of a recurring nature such as the pay of service personnel, the consumption of spares and the repair and maintenance of weapons platforms and equipments; and those one-off costs arising specifically from the operation such as the costs of deployment and of equipment procurement and modification.
§ Mrs. BeckettTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his latest estimate of the total cost to the United Kingdom of the Gulf crisis; and how much of this represents replacement costs of equipment where payment will be made outside the current financial year.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonThe latest total full operating cost to date of the United Kingdom's military involvement in the Gulf crisis is estimated to be about £1 billion. This does not include the value of equipment lost and ammunition consumed in operations which is estimated to be well over £100 million. No decisions have yet been taken on the replacement of lost equipment.