The Gulf (Hansard, 30 October 1990)

§ 15. Mr. Buckley
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration he has given to the pay and conditions of United Kingdom service men and women in the Gulf.

§ 22. Mr. Fisher
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration he has given to the pay and conditions of United Kingdom service men and women in the Gulf.

§ 71. Mr. Loyden
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration he has given to the pay and conditions of United Kingdom service men and women in the Gulf.

§ Mr. Archie Hamilton
My right hon. Friend has already announced measures which will ensure that no service men or women will suffer a net reduction in pay and allowances as a result of service in the Gulf. Many of our service 495W personnel in the Gulf are living in difficult conditions, but I am satisfied that the services are doing their very best to ensure that the general welfare and morale of our troops is maintained.

§ 26. Dr. Goodson-Wickes
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consultations he has had concerning the reaction of NATO countries to the Gulf crisis.

§ Mr. Archie Hamilton
My right hon. Friend has had a number of discussions with NATO colleagues about the response of NATO countries to the Gulf crisis.

§ 28. Mr. Evennett
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he last met his counterparts within the EC to discuss the Gulf crisis.

§ Mr. Archie Hamilton
There is no forum within the EC in which Defence Ministers meet. However, my right hon. Friend has met a number of his western European counterparts in the recent past and the situation in the Gulf has been among the subjects discussed.

§ 32. Mr. Sumberg
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many British troops are now stationed in the Persian Gulf as part of the multinational defence presence in the region.

§ 86. Mr. Douglas
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the current level of United Kingdom forces engaged in operations in the Gulf area.

§ Mr. Archie Hamilton
The United Kingdom has committed a total of some 16,000 service personnel to the multinational effort in the Gulf, of whom some 12,000 are already in the region.

§ 35. Mr. Steinberg
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what insurance cover has been arranged for British service men and women in the Gulf in the event of accidents.

§ 80. Mr. Darling
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what insurance cover has been arranged for British service men and women in the Gulf in the event of accidents.

§ 82. Mrs. Mahon
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what insurance cover has been arranged for British service men and women in the Gulf in the event of accidents.

§ Mr. Archie Hamilton
All service personnel are eligible for benefits under the armed forces pension scheme in the event of attributable injury. Decisions to take out personal accident or life insurance cover are the responsibility of individual service men and women. A number of policies tailored to their needs is available and these are given publicity in the services. Where additional premiums are charged because of defined service risks a large part of the extra cost may be reclaimed from the Ministry of Defence.

§ 39. Mr. Corbyn
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the latest estimated cost of British forces in the Gulf to the end of the financial year.

§ Mr. Tom King
I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave today to the hon. Member for Newport, East (Mr. Hughes).
496W

§ 54. Mr. John Greenway
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what further assessment he has made of the implications for the defence budget of current events in the Gulf; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Archie Hamilton
The full operating costs of the deployment in the Gulf area arising out of Iraq's invasion of Kuwait, if this were to continue to the end of the financial year, without hostilities, would be expected to exceed £600 million.
A class I winter supplementary estimate to be presented shortly will seek an increase in provision partly to take account of expenditure in the Gulf.

§ 67. Mr. Andrew Welsh
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the estimated daily expenditure on British forces in the Gulf.

§ 81. Mrs. Margaret Ewing
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the estimated daily expenditure on British forces in the Gulf.

§ Mr. Archie Hamilton
I refer the hon. Members to my reply to the hon. Member for Newham, North-West (Mr. Banks) on 17 October 1990 at column855.

§ 78. Mr. Pawsey
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what contribution is being made towards the costs incurred by western forces currently in the Gulf by Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.

§ Mr. Archie Hamilton
Both countries are contributing financially to the multinational effort in response to the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. In addition, the Saudi Government are providing various forms of support for forces deployed in Saudi Arabia.