§ Mr. Keith SimpsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of the defence budget in (a) cash and (b) percentage terms is taken up by the cost of maintaining the Army and RAF in Germany in the current financial year.[8134]
§ Dr. Reid[pursuant to his reply, 16 July 1997, c. 236–37]: On the costs of maintaining the Army and Royal Air Force's garrisons in Germany, further information has been drawn together.
I regret that the calculations given in my original answer inadvertently omitted the running costs associated with some minor, centrally funded units which are based in Germany, but included those for our contribution towards various NATO headquarters in the country. The estimated running costs of the Army and Royal Air Force in Germany to account both for these factors and for the revision of those costs for the formations which were properly included in my earlier answer. The net effect of these changes is that the estimated running costs for financial year 1997–98 for the Army and Royal Air Force in Germany are now £1,139 million and £169 million respectively. These costs represent about 5.2 per cent. of the Defence budget in the case of the Army and 0.8 per cent. for the Royal Air Force.
I am sorry that it has been necessary to make these corrections.