§ 1984. Sir Teddy TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current level of defence expenditure in Gibraltar; and what was the comparable level of expenditure on a real and comparable expenditure basis in(a) 1980 and (b)
§ Mr. SoamesThe level of defence expenditure in Gibraltar for the current financial year–1994–95—is approximately £59 million.
Before the financial year 1991–92, financial information was not collected in a way which attributed costs to any particular location, and comparable figures are not therefore available.
§ Sir Teddy TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what facilities are available to the inhabitants of Gibraltar for the protection of territorial waters and of the local fishing industry; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. SoamesA seaborne patrol of Gibraltar's territorial waters is regularly conducted by the Gibraltar Squadron. The Gibraltar Squadron will call upon the services of the local police should it encounter a potential or actual offence at sea being committed. The Gibraltar guard ship, normally a frigate or a destroyer, is maintained within a few days steaming of Gibraltar. Other defence assets could be deployed to Gibraltar if necessary.
§ Sir Teddy TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's commitment to the airport in Gibraltar with particular reference to RAF participation.
§ Mr. SoamesThe airport remains under MOD ownership for the time being. While certain support services will be contractorised, an RAF element will370W remain to deal with the regular scheduled Hercules flights and also the occasional Nimrod or fast jet detachment.
§ Sir Teddy TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the provision of forces' manpower to ensure that internal security can be maintained in pursuance of the constitutional responsibilities of the Governor of Gibraltar; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. SoamesThere are two police forces in Gibraltar, the Royal Gibraltar police and the Gibraltar Service police. In assessing the future size of the garrison and arrangements for reinforcing it if necessary, we have taken full account of all potential calls on service personnel, including the possibility of supporting the police.
§ Sir Teddy TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether it is his intention to retain the two Royal Naval vessels based at Gibraltar charged with responsibilities for rescue and sea patrol.
§ Mr. SoamesAs the then Minister of State for the Armed Forces said in his reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Milton Keynes North-East (Mr. Butler) on 7 July,Official Report, column 262, we intend to retain the Gibraltar Squadron, which consists of two patrol craft and two search and rescue rigid inflatable boats.