§ Ann ClwydTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the annual cost of promoting arms exports. [15300]
§ Mr. SpellarThe net cost in financial year 1996 –97 of operating the Defence Export Services Organisation in my Department was £16.6 million.
This sum should be judged in the context of the substantial benefit to the taxpayer which in the same year included receipts of more than £50 million in Commercial Exploitation Levy, income of £84 million from the sale of surplus military equipment, and contributions of more than £300 million in reduced overheads on the MOD's own procurement costs.