§ Mr. JenkinTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list common budget contributions by NATO members to the three NATO budgets in(a) 1997, (b) 1998, (c) 1999, (d) 2000, (e) 2001 and (f) 2002; and if he will indicate the provisional projections for future years. [33193]
§ Mr. HoonBudget ceilings for NATO's three budgets were set as follows:
Security investment programme (million of NAU)1 Military budget (million of NAU)2 Military budget (million of NAU)3 Civil budget (million of Belgian francs) 1997 183.5 176.3 — 5,721 1998 183.5 178.9 — 5,847 1999 183.5 188.7 — 5,996 2000 183.5 188.8 15.6 6,080 2001 185.0 191.6 17.7 6,253 2002 185.0 192.8 16.8 4euro 166.9 million 1 The value of NATO Accounting Units has varied from £2.680 in January 1997 to £2.122 in January 2002. 2 These figures include an account supporting NATO's Airborne Early Warning Force to which the UK does not contribute. Our contribution to this force is made in kind, by the assignment to SACEUR of the RAF's E3D Sentry aircraft. 3 Post-Kosovo, a separate military budget account to cover Balkans operations was established. 4 For 2002, the civil budget was set in euros—euro 161.4 million, plus euro 5.5 million for additional security enhancements at NATO HQ required after 11 September 2001. Ceilings for 2003 have still to be settled, but we would expect them to be of the same order as those for 2002.
§ Mr. JenkinTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with his NATO counterparts regarding NATO member contributions to the 2002 NATO budgets; and if he will make a statement. [33192]
§ Mr. HoonI have had no discussions with NATO Defence Ministers on contributions to the three NATO budgets for 2002. The 2002 budget ceilings for the NATO Security Investment Programme and the Military Budget were noted during the NATO Defence Ministers' meeting on 7 June 2001, when the UK was represented by our Permanent Representative. NATO's Civil Budget is a matter for the Foreign Secretary.