§ Sir Ian Orr-Ewingasked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the estimated cost in foreign exchange of the 339W British Army of the Rhine in each of the last 10 years; and how much was offset in each of these years by West German purchases or contributions.
§ Mr. HealeyFor the years before 1961 I would refer the hon. Member to the statement published in HANSARD for 9th June, 1964. The figures for subsequent years are as follows:
Column 1 Column 2 Column 3 Total Deutsche-mark Cost borne by Her Majesty's Government £m German financial contribution to Her Majesty's Government £m Offset Payments £m Calendar Years 1961 60 — — 1962 65 — 107 1963 76 — Financial Years 1964–65 82 24 1965–66 84 38* 1966–67 89* 54* In addition, further offsetting payments and deposits totalling £54 million* were made in the period 1964–66.
* Estimated.
These figures cover the Royal Air Force in Germany as well as the British Army of the Rhine, because German contributions or offset payments cannot be attributed to the British Army of the Rhine or to the Royal Air Force in Germany separately. Of the £89 million estimated for 1966–67, some £12½ million is for the Royal Air Force.
The foreign currency requirements of the British Army of the Rhine also include currencies other than Deutschemarks. The amounts are very small except in the case of Belgian Francs, at present running at about £31½ million a year.—[Vol. 696, c. 48.]