§ Mr. JenkinTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much the UK will pay to NATO as its share of NATO's overall costs in(a) 2001–02, (b) 2002–03 and (c) 2003–;04; and what the equivalent figures are for other NATO member countries. [19822]
§ Mr. HoonThe Ministry of Defence pays the UK's contributions to NATO's Military Budget and Security Investment Programme. It also makes a very small payment towards the Civil Budget, to which the major contributor is the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. The estimated net expenditure for the current financial year is £113 million. Subject to exchange rate and other technical variations, we would expect the next year's payments to be of the same order. In the subsequent year, ceilings have still to be agreed for NATO's budget year 2003 which is the major influence on our financial year 2003–04 payments.
1151WWe do not have figures for other NATO countries. However, their payments are made in accordance with the agreed cost shares for each budget.
§ Mr. JenkinTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how often the NATO-ESDP Working Groups on capabilities have met; and if he will make a statement. [19823]
§ Mr. HoonThe NATO-EU Ad Hoc Working Group on Capabilities has met eight times, including its inaugural meeting on 28 July 2000.
The group was set up following the Feira European Council in June 2000. The group has enabled useful exchanges of information and dialogue between the two organisations on capability development issues, in addition to the extensive staff contacts that have taken place on the development of the Headline Goal and the Defence Capabilities Initiative.