HC Deb 22 February 2000 vol 344 c882W
Mr. Nicholas Winterton

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence to what extent the Governments of the overseas territories provide(a) equipment and (b) funding for their own defence. [110673]

Mr. Battle

[holding answer 17 February 2000]: I have been asked to reply.

We are committed to guaranteeing the defence of our Overseas Territories. This was reiterated in the Strategic Defence Review of July 1998 and is reflected in the deployments of HM Forces. Four Territories also make provision from their own budget for a locally-recruited defence force:

  1. (i) The Bermuda Defence Force has sufficient equipment for a battalion-sized group. Its budget for 1999–2000 is $4.2 Bermuda million (£1 = $1.60 Bermuda).
  2. (ii) The Falkland Islands Defence Force is equipped to provide an infantry company and has a defined operational role. Provisional outturn for the year 1998–99 was £405,000. In addition the Falkland Islands Government provide some support services to the British garrison free of charge.
  3. (iii) The Gibraltar Government contributed £35,500 towards the pay of the territorial element of the Gibraltar Defence Force for 1999–2000.
  4. (iv) The Montserrat Government contributed £38,000 to the budget of the Royal Montserrat Defence Force for 1998–99.

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