§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement regarding the bill sent to West Mercia police for assistance rendered subsequent to the bombing of Tern Hill barracks, Shropshire; what is the sum of this bill; and to which subheads of which votes these funds will be allocated when the bill is paid.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonA bill for approximately £79,500 has been presented to the West Mercia police for logistic support provided by the Ministry of Defence, in assisting the investigation of the explosion at Clive barracks, Tern Hill. This sum covered a number of items, including the provision of meals and temporary shelters, hire of cranes and skips, civil and military transport and contract labour. The bill has been raised in accordance with the normal arrangements for charging the police for logistic assistance from the services. The receipt would be charged to class I, vote 1 subhead LZ(9), which covers receipts for service assistance to civil authorities.