HC Deb 28 October 1999 vol 336 cc952-3W
Mr. Peter Bradley

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which Ministers in his Department visited Belize in each year between 1990 and 1997; and what support his Department gave Belize in each year. [96212]

Mr. Spellar

As far as available records show, Belize received official visits from the following Defence Ministers between 1990 and 1997.

January 1990:

  • Archie Hamilton (Minister of State for the Armed Forces).

October 1990:

  • Lord Arran (Under Secretary of State for the Armed Forces).

September 1993:

  • Jeremy Hanley (Minister of State for the Armed Forces).

May 1994:

  • Malcolm Rifkind (Secretary of State for Defence).

The MOD maintained a small garrison in Belize until September 1994, and has provided support to the Belize Defence Force through the Defence Policy and Military Assistance Funds. The amounts provided in support of the Belize Defence Force in each Financial Year between 1990 and 1997 are set out in the table:

Year £
1990–91 787,195
1991–92 721,808
1992–93 670,000
1993–94 792,775
1994–95 806,120
1995–96 834,927
1996–97 502,105
1997–98 283,967