HC Deb 22 July 1998 vol 316 c543W
Mr. Gerrard

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 21 May 1998,Official Report, columns 520–22, on support for the police and military forces, if he will provide a breakdown of the expenditure in 1997–98 under the United Kingdom military training assistance scheme in support of the armed forces in Sri Lanka; and if he will list the training establishments involved and the nature of the training. [51801]

Mr. Fatchett

In 1997–98 the United Kingdom Military Training Assistance Scheme was used to fund the following military training for the Sri Lankan armed forcesMilitary officers sent on UK training courses at Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst and the Royal College of Defence Studies (£27,741). Assistance in setting up and running an Army Staff College (£54,645) aimed at middle ranking officers. Advisory visit (£4,535) by military instructors to assess the suitability of the Sri Lankan Armed Command Regiment to receive VIP protection assistance. Drill training (£1,085) for the Sri Lankan Army in preparation for the 50th Anniversary of Independence Parades.

Once adjustments made by the MOD billing agency in Liverpool have been added (£2,210) this brings the total to £90,216.