HC Deb 24 January 1986 vol 90 cc335-6W
Mr. Hawksley

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what is the total expenditure on the Berlin brigade of the British Army in each of the last five years;

(2) how much the German Government have contributed financially to the budget of the Berlin brigade of the British Army in each of the last five years.

Mr. Stanley

The estimated cost of the defence budget of the Berlin brigade in each of the years in question is as follows:

(£ million)
1981–82 27
1982–83 38
1983–84 42
1984–85 47
1985–86 49

In accordance with the allied "Declaration of Berlin" of 26 May 1952, local expenditure on supplies and services for all British forces in Berlin is met without charge to United Kingdom funds. Total estimated expenditure in each of the years concerned is as follows:

(£ million)
1981–82 69.3
1982–83 74.9
1983–84 71.8
1984–85 82.3
1985–86 98.7

Note:

All figures quoted are at the prices and exchange rates applying in each financial year.

Information about the attribution of this expenditure to particular elements is not readily available.

Mr. Hawksley

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what conditions are laid down by the German Government on how the money provided by the German Government for expenditure on the Berlin brigade is spent.

Mr. Stanley

The Berlin occupation costs budget is designed to meet the extra costs of stationing allied forces in Berlin. The allies agreed in 1952 that as the occupation costs were a charge on the budget of the Federal Republic they would be fixed after consultation with the appropriate German authorities and at the lowest level consistent with maintaining the security of Berlin and the allied forces located there. The details of these consultations are confidential between the Governments concerned.

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