§ Sir Nicholas BonsorTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on participation in, and costs of recent Army exercises in Botswana.
§ Mr. HanleyThe Army currently holds annual company level exercises in Botswana. The most recent of these took place in January/February 1994 and involved 1 Glosters. The next exercise is planned for November/ December 1994 and will involve 3 Para. The cost of the 219W last exercise was £66,000. This comprised vehicle hire of £24,000, container movement of £38,000 and additional in-theatre costs of £4,000.
Aircraft of the RAF's air transport force were used to deploy and recover the personnel and equipment involved in this exercise, within the annual flying programme for the force. Therefore, only incidental additional expenses were incurred on this aspect of the training.