§ Mr. ColvinTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current level of support from the services and from civilian staff of his Department for(a) the royal tournament, (b) the Edinburgh tattoo and (c) other similar scale events, showing the additional attributable cost; what plans he has to reduce that level of support; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. HanleyThe 1992 royal tournament, the most recent for which detailed figures are readily available, required support of about 19,500 man days of effort from service personnel, excluding participants. The 1993 tournament was reduced in length from 29 to 20 performances, with a consequent reduction in effort. There are no MOD civilian staff directly employed on royal tournament tasks. The additional attributable costs—that is, costs which would not otherwise have been incurred, amounted to approximately £350,000 in 1992.
The 1993 Edinburgh tattoo required support of a little over 5,000 man days of effort from service personnel, excluding participants. Some MOD civilian staff worked overtime in support of the tattoo and a number of casual cleaners were hired for its duration. The total attributable costs were some £60,000.
There are no other events comparable to the royal tournament and the Edinburgh tattoo.
There are no plans at present for further reductions in support to these events.