Jim Cunningham – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2015-11-03.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate his Department has made of the total operational cost of UK overseas military bases in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.
Penny Mordaunt
The operating costs of overseas bases are not held centrally and some cost elements are not immediately available. I have provided statistics for financial years 2011-12 and 2014-15, and will write to the hon. Member shortly to provide the rest of the information.
Base |
Expenditure 2011-12 (£ million) |
2014-15 (£ million) |
Belize |
2 |
|
Brunei (1) |
66 |
|
Canada |
68 |
|
Cyprus |
257 |
250 |
Diego Garcia |
3 |
|
Germany |
907 |
235 |
Gibraltar |
71 |
70 |
Kenya |
41 |
|
Nepal (2) |
11 |
|
South Atlantic Islands |
99 |
85 |
Notes:
(1) The majority of the expenditure is funded by the Sultanate of Brunei.
(2) The costs shown are partially offset by income received from UK-delivered training.
These figures represent the cost of operating our permanent bases overseas (including stock consumption, infrastructure, welfare and medical, leases, equipment support) and the cost of employment of the personnel based there.
Decisions on the UK’s permanent military presence overseas will be taken in the Strategic Defence and Security Review. This Government is clear that there will be no reduction in Britain’s influence overseas, and Defence will continue to play a strong global role.