§ Mr. HunterTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the most recently revised estimate of the financial cost to the United Kingdom of the Gulf war.
§ Mr. SoamesThe current estimate of the additional military cost of the Gulf conflict is £2,489,000,000, spread over several years. As part of its normal insurance business, the Export Credits Guarantee Department has paid £658,000,000 of claims arising from the situation in the Gulf in 1990–91 and which have yet to be recovered. Other Departments incurred minor costs in respect of the conflict.
The bulk of these costs have been offset by the generous cash contributions from the other Governments totalling £2,049,000,000.