§ Mr. BluntTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence in respect of his Department's overspend in financial year 1996–97, how much he claimed from the Reserve in the first instance; and how much he finally obtained. [14024]
§ Dr. ReidMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence has not made a claim on the Reserve in the 1996–97 financial year which ended before the present Government was elected.
84WIn November 1996, the former Secretary of State sought and secured funding from the Reserve to meet the estimated additional costs of the United Kingdom's contribution to the NATO-led Implementation Force in the Former Yugoslavia in 1996–97 of £184 million; £160 million for ground operations and £24 million for supporting air operations. In the event, the actual cost of the ground operation in 1996–97 was £183 million and a further £22 million was incurred in meeting the United Kingdom's commitment to the follow on Stabilisation Force on which decisions were made after the Reserve claim.