§ Harry Cohen:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the total annual cost of the United Kingdom military commitment to Iraq is, assuming current manning and equipment levels. [141184]
§ Mr. Ingram:For 2002–03, the cost of operations in Iraq totalled £847.211 million, comprising £629.531 million Operating Costs and £217.680 million Capital Costs.
For 2003–04, at the moment, the Ministry of Defence intends to seek a further £1.2 billion at Winter Supplementary Estimates to cover the likely costs of Operation Telic in 2003–04. This will cover primarily the cost of peacekeeping and associated Urgent Operational Requirements (UORs). It does not include the cost of the Recuperation of my Department's operational capability. This is still being assessed. The forecast for 2003–04 may change as a result of stock being returned from Iraq and its value being credited against the overall cost of the operation. An updated forecast of costs for 2003–04 will be published in the Spring Supplementary Estimates.
It is too early to say what costs might be incurred after 2003–04.