§ Mr. Favellasked the Secretary of State for Defence when the latest United States mutual defence assistance programme equipment disposal deposit account will be published; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. HeseltineThe account for the year ended 31 March 1984 has been published today as Cmnd. 9448.
This account receives the proceeds, less allowable expenses, of sales of equipment and material originally supplied by the United States during the 1950s under the mutual defence assistance programme. The funds are used, following consultation and agreement with the United States authorities, for United Kingdom projects for the defence of the NATO area additional to the defence effort of the United Kingdom, or for such other projects as may be mutually agreed. Receipts into the account have diminished in recent years and in 1983–84 totalled £5,308, though they will be greater in 1984–85. After consultation with the United States authorities the Government have decided as a measure of administrative economy to discontinue publication of the annual account as a Command paper. The Government will however arrange for any future account to be placed in the Library of the House should an hon. Member so request. The Comptroller and Auditor General will continue to audit and certify the account.