Written question asked by Paul Rowen (Liberal Democrat) on Monday, 11 May 2009, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 14 May 2009. It was answered by Lord Coaker (Labour) on Friday, 15 May 2009 on behalf of the Home Office.

Terrorism

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent estimate she has made of the cost of the revised Contest strategy; and if she will make a statement.

Answer: [holding answer 14 May 2009]: "The United Kingdom's Strategy for Countering International Terrorism" set out details of Government spending on counter terrorism and intelligence. It is forecast to rise from £2.5 billion in 2008-09 to £3.5 billion in 2010-11. This budget is wider than just expenditure on the Government's counter-terrorism strategy, CONTEST.Breaking down this budget by specific counter-terrorism and intelligence activities, beyond what is published already, would reveal our capabilities and details of the Security and Intelligence Agencies spending. It has been the policy of successive Governments not to reveal these details.

Secondary information