Forces Overseas (Costs)

HC Deb 21 October 1976 vol 917 cc535-7W

Mr. Hooley

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the cost

and Ireland, (b) other EEC countries and (c) non-EEC countries.

Mr. Bishop

The information requested is as follows:

across the exchanges of maintaining British forces outside the United Kingdom, including BAOR and garrison around the world, in each of the years from 1965 to 1975 at constant 1975 prices.

Mr. Mulley

The local cost at current prices worldwide as reported in successive Defence White Papers for the years since 1971–72, and on a similar basis for the years 1965–66–1970–71, is:

1965–66	…	…	£m 254
1966–67	…	…	£m 277
1967–68	…	…	£m 241
1968–69	…	…	£m 240
1969–70	…	…	£m 247
1970–71	…	…	£m 274
1971–72	…	…	£m 300
1972–73	…	…	£m 307
1973–74	…	…	£m 410
1974–75	…	…	£m 488
1975–76	…	…	£m 587

Because of the variety of the inflation rates and changes in exchange rates it is not practicable to express the figures at constant 1975 prices.