§ Mr. Keith SimpsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what sum is allocated to maintaining the United Kingdom military contribution to IFOR in the current financial year; and what that is as a percentage of the defence budget. [10116]
§ Dr. Reid[holding answer 25 July 1997]: The costs in this financial year of the UK's military contribution to the international forces in Bosnia are currently estimated to be something over £200 million. This covers the follow-on costs from the implementation force, which 77W came to an end in December 1996, the UK contingent to the stabilisation force and the costs of supporting air operations. The total is the equivalent of about 1 per cent. of the defence budget.