HC Deb 14 July 1998 vol 316 c174W
Mr. Corbyn

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will estimate the impact on the United Kingdom defence budget of the proposed expansion of NATO. [50393]

Mr. George Robertson

NATO has estimated that the cost to its military common budgets of the accession of the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland will be some $1.5 billion over ten years. The United Kingdom's share of this cost will, at current exchange rates, be some £110 million over the 10 years. On present expectations, the costs to the United Kingdom's defence budget will be met from within existing and planned provision.