§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the current estimate of the cost of security related to the Northern Ireland conflict as an absolute figure, a percentage figure of all Government expenditure in Northern Ireland and as a per capita figure for the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. Stanley[holding answer 30 November 1987]: In 1987–88 it is estimated that expenditure by the Northern Ireland Office on law, order, protective and miscellaneous services (LOPMS) will amount to some £512.4 million. This comprises approximately 10.5 per cent. of total Government expenditure in the Province. In addition, the cost of deploying the armed forces in support of the Royal Ulster Constabularly is estimated at £168 million in 1987–88. Taken together this works out to be a cost of some £12 per person in the United Kingdom.
Note: The LOPMS budget includes expenditure on items (for example, civil defence) not directly related to the terrorist campaign, and the bulk of LOPMS expenditure (for example, on the RUC and on prisons) does not all arise from the terrorist campaign.