§ Mr. Ridleyasked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the annual cost in foreign exchange, per serviceman stationed overseas, for each of the years 1948, 1958 and 1968, in real terms and in money terms.
§ Mr. HealeyThe information is not readily available for 1948. For 1958 and 1968, actual local defence expenditure per serviceman stationed overseas (including naval personnel afloat in overseas waters in the total) was £900 and £2,050 respectively (no account is taken here of German support or offset payments). Expressing these figures in real terms involves technical problems which cannot be solved at short notice. The increase between 1958 and 1968 can, however, be attributed not only to pay and price increases, but also to the ending of National Service and the associated extension of accompanied service overseas.