Running Costs (Hansard, 26 February 1990)

Mr. O'Neill
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what is the current annual cost of maintaining Royal Navy vessels in the Caribbean;
(2) what is the current annual running cost of the Armilla patrol.

§ Mr. Archie Hamilton
It is not practicable to separate the costs of individual fleet tasks, since financial provision for manpower, fuel, supplies and other items is made to cover the operations of the fleet as a whole.

Mr. O'Neill
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current annual running cost of the Army detachment stationed in Belize.

§ Mr. Archie Hamilton
The estimated cost of maintaining an Army garrison in Belize in 1989–90 is £18 million. This includes a small element for capital costs.

Mr. O'Neill
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current annual running cost of the Royal Air Force detachment stationed in Belize.

§ Mr. Archie Hamilton
The estimated cost of maintaining a Royal Air Force detachment in Belize in 1989–90 is £11 million.

Mr. O'Neill
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current average annual running costs of(a) a Buccaneer strike/attack squadron, (b) a Jaguar offensive support squadron, (c) a Nimrod maritime patrol squadron and (d) a Tornado F3 air defence squadron.

§ Mr. Archie Hamilton
The approximate annual running cost of a Buccaneer strike/attack squadron is £33.74 million; for a Jaguar offensive support squadron £30.63 million; for a Nimrod maritime patrol squadron £35.33 million; and for a Tornado F3 air defence squadron £49.76 million.

Mr. O'Neill
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current annual cost of(a) a regular Army 74W soldier, (b) a Territorial Army soldier, (c) a Royal Navy sailor, (d) a Royal Naval Reserve sailor, (e) a Royal Air Force airman and (f) a Royal Auxiliary Air Force airman.

§ Mr. Archie Hamilton
I will write to the hon. Member.

Mr. O'Neill
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) whether the figures for the average annual running costs of a Tornado GR1 squadron and a Challenger regiment provided on page 48 of the 4th report of the Defence Committee, HC 383, Session 1988–89, include both units based in the United Kingdom and those in West Germany;
(2) whether the figures for the average annual running costs of units provided on page 48 of the 4th report of the Defence Committee, HC 383, Session 1988–89, include those Royal Navy units undergoing refit or on standby.

§ Mr. Archie Hamilton
Yes.

Mr. O'Neill
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what is the current annual running cost of(a) an armoured regiment, (b) an infantry battalion and (c) an artillery field regiment stationed in the United Kingdom;
(2) what is the current annual running cost of (a) an armoured regiment, (b) an infantry battalion, (c) an artillery field regiment and (d) an Army Air Corps regiment stationed with the British Army of the Rhine.

§ Mr. Archie Hamilton
[holding answer 19 February 1990]: Running costs vary according to a unit's composition and its precise task at the time. Running costs for 1989–90, to the nearest £ million, are as follows:

British Army of the Rhine £ million United Kingdom £ million

Armoured regiment 13 13

Infantry battalion 15 11 to 13

Artillery field regiment 13 to 16 14

Army Air Corps regiment 21 —

These figures are at current prices. They do not include civilian support costs.

	British Army of the Rhine £ million	United Kingdom £ million
Armoured regiment	13	13
Infantry battalion	15	11 to 13
Artillery field regiment	13 to 16	14
Army Air Corps regiment	21	—