§ Mr. SalmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much expenditure in 1996–1997 can be116W associated directly with security activities in (a) Northern Ireland, (b) the Falklands and (c) the remaining United Kingdom dependent territories. [61696]
§ Mr. George RobertsonExpenditure directly associated with security activities cannot be distinguished from that on other activities. The following costs of the military presence provide a broad guide to the overall level of commitment in 1996–97:
- (a) Northern Ireland £505 million.
This figure relates to the costs incurred by the General Officer Commanding, Northern Ireland. It thus excludes related elements of expenditure, incurred elsewhere within Class I Votes, which are not separately identified.
- (b) Falklands £81 million.
This figure relates to the costs incurred by the Commander, British Forces Falkland Islands (CBFFI) only. It does not thus include the costs of the RAF airbridge to the Falkland Islands, nor the cost of naval deployments to the South Atlantic. These costs fall to other budgets and are not separately identified.
- (c) UK dependent territories (excluding Falkland Islands) Gibraltar £63 million.
Costs incurred in the support of the remaining dependent territories are not separately identified and are relatively small. Expenditure is principally on the operation of the West Indies Guardship which supports UK dependent territories throughout the Caribbean, among other tasks. Otherwise, support generally relates to the provision of a small number of Loan Service Personnel to assist with training. The cost of the military presence in South Georgia and the Sandwich Islands is included in CBFFI' s budget.