HC Deb 09 December 1987 vol 124 c208W
Mr. Cohen

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list every country and dependency where there is a permanent British military or naval presence, the annual costs to public funds of each such presence, and the proportion that represents in each case of the total cost of such a presence.

Mr. Ian Stewart

Countries and dependencies (outside the NATO area except Gibraltar) where there is a permanent British military or naval presence, and the annual cost to United Kingdom public funds of those forces, together with the proportion of the total cost of the presence in each case which this cost represents, are as follows:

Estimated Cost (1987–88) £ million Proportion of Total Cost per cent.
Hong Kong 55 25
British Indian Ocean Territory (Diego Garcia) 1 100
Falkland Islands (including South Georgia) 141 100
Gibraltar 79 100
Cyprus (includes SBA and UNFICYP forces) 112 81
Belize 38 100
Brunei 0

We do not maintain forces exclusively for operations in dependencies other than those listed, and costs are not separately identified. These details exclude loan service personnel stationed in a number of countries and dependencies throughout the world. All the costs shown include directly attributable expenditure on capital works and equipment and are running costs for materiel and manpower. The costs of operational headquarters, bases and general operational support have been attributed pro rata.

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