§ Mr. CoxTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what is the total cost to the British Army of polo ponies stabled at bases(a) in the United Kingdom and (b) overseas; and how many polo ponies are stabled at its bases in total; [63991]
(2) what proportion of the cost of the maintenance of polo ponies in British military bases (a) in the United Kingdom and (b) overseas is paid by individual polo players. [63992]
§ Mr. SpellarMy Department does not own any polo ponies, although ponies may be owned by individual service personnel and stabled at private saddle clubs within British Army bases in the United Kingdom and overseas. The cost of stabling these ponies is met by non-public funds and therefore at no cost to my Department. My Department does not hold details of the number of polo ponies stabled within British Army bases, and this information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.