§ Mr. BluntTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the marginal cost to his Department's budget of taking part in IFOR and Operation Decisive Edge in the financial year 1996–97; and how much was made available from the reserve towards these costs. [13133]
§ Dr. ReidThe additional cost to the Defence budget of the United Kingdom's military contribution to the NATO led Implementation Force (IFOR) was £183 million in 1996–97. The additional cost of the supporting air operation under Operation Decisive Edge was £19 million. Based on November 1996 forecasts of £184 million, the Government provided additional funding of £184 million to meet these costs.