§ Lord Fanshawe of Richmondasked Her Majesty's Government:
What is the estimated annual cost of the Parachute Regiment compared to the annual cost of an infantry battalion of the line.
§ Lord HenleyThe comparative costs between the Parachute Regiment and an infantry battalion could be misleading, as the Parachute Regiment is made up of three battalions. The annual costs of both depend upon role and location. The average annual military manpower cost for a battalion of each, based on Peacetime Establishment and the latest average capitation rates, is as follows:
Parachute battalion: £12.31 million Infantry battalion: £11.02 million Members of a parachute battalion receive a daily parachute pay allowance of £3.43, which amounts to an average annual total of £1.19 million and which, in the main, accounts for the difference in the cost comparison above.