§ The Earl of Northeskasked Her Majesty's Government:
What is the annual budget for the defence of the Falkland Islands;
What value or benefit it attaches to the Ministry of Defence's use of the Falkland Islands as an operational and joint services training facility; and
What proportion of the budget spent on Falkland Islands defence it perceives to represent "added value" in terms of, for example, training opportunities not otherwise available in other theatres of Ministry of Defence operation.
§ The Minister of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Gilbert)The budget for the Falkland Islands garrison is £74 million in the financial year 1997–98.
The purpose of the British military presence in the Falkland Islands is to uphold the right of the Falkland Islanders to determine their own future. While there, British forces take the opportunity to conduct joint land, sea and air exercises in a challenging environment, and the RAF makes full use of the extensive facilities for low flying. This training is however designed to maintain the forces' high level of military preparedness, and is not regarded or costed as separable from their main purpose in being there.