Written question asked by Lord Marlesford (Conservative), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Baroness Taylor of Bolton (Labour) on Monday, 18 January 2010.

Armed Forces: Costs

Question: To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Baroness Taylor of Bolton on 5 January (WA 4) on the costs of United Kingdom military operations in certain countries, whether they will adjust the figures to include the cost of military equipment, military personnel pay, estate works and maintenance, and information technology and communications.

Answer: The original Question asks for the cost to public funds for "operations" in Iraq, Afghanistan, Cyprus, Northern Ireland, Germany, and the Falkland Islands in each of the past five years. In strict terms, during that period, only forces in Iraq and Afghanistan have been engaged in military "operations" for which the net additional costs are met by the reserve. The other countries, with the exception of Cyprus, have standing forces, and our activities there paid for from the core defence budget. Cyprus has a combination of forces for which we receive payment for peacekeeping duties by the United Nations and other UK standing forces. The MoD's core budget is separated into eight top level budget holders (TLBs) each responsible for delivering individual military objectives. Within these TLBs the budget is not routinely allocated in terms of regions but in terms of categories of expenditure. The level of detailed breakdown requested could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 1155; 716 c201-2WA
Session: 2009-10
Related items: Armed Forces: Costs
Monday, 25 January 2010
Written questions
House of Lords; Armed Forces: Costs
Tuesday, 5 January 2010
Written questions
House of Lords
Subjects: Armed forces Deployment Cyprus Defence equipment ICT Expenditure Iraq Germany Falkland Islands Northern Ireland Pay Peacekeeping operations Military bases Afghanistan
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk