§ Mrs. ClwydTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the annual cost to his Department of the UK military training and assistance scheme in each of the last five financial years. [23243]
§ Mr. SoamesThe UK military training and assistance scheme is controlled by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, which has primary responsibility for funding military assistance. The MOD does not bear any of the costs of UKMTAS. On occasion, however, and where the aims serve defence interests, the MOD agrees to waive the costs of training provided to foreign Governments. The total of these waivers in the last five years is as follows:
Year £ million 1990–91 4.6 1991–92 4.6 1992–93 5.9 1993–94 5.1 1994–95 15.6 1 Forecast outturn. In addition, some £70,000 was spent in 1993–94 and a further £173,000 in 1994–95 in support of the United Kingdom's programme of bilateral defence contact with central and eastern Europe.
Details of the assistance provided are confidential between Governments.