HC Deb 22 June 1966 vol 730 cc64-5W
53. Mr. Luard

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the present establishment and cost, in sterling and foreign exchange, of the British base at Aden; and what are the expected establishment and cost of the facilities at Bahrain and Sharjah after 1968.

Mr. Healey

There are at present about 19,000 United Kingdom Service personnel in Aden and the Persian Gulf. The attributable theatre cost of our forces in this area is £66 million and the expenditure in foreign exchange £28 million. It would not be in the national interest to reveal such information relating to our future plans for deployment in the Persian Gulf area.

Mr. Barnett

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give estimates of direct costs in the Persian Gulf in each year up to and including 1969–70 in sterling and foreign exchange.

Mr. Healey

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answer I gave today to a similar question by the hon. Member for Oxford (Mr. Luard).