asked the Secretary of State for Defence what compensation has been paid out in the past five years by his Department to persons making claims for injury and damage for which his Department was responsible; and if he will give the figures on a year-by-year basis; and what has been the cost of buildings and equipment, for which his Department was responsible, destroyed or damaged over the same period, including losses sustained by the Armed Services, except for equipment lost in combat.

The sums paid out in compensation in the past five years to persons making claims for injury and damage were as follows:

£m.
1975–76 5.39	1976–77 6.34	1977–78 8.04
1978–79 6.78	1979–80 (estimate) 10.0

The cost of buildings and equipment destroyed or damaged in the same period was as follows:

£m.
1975–76 3.94	1976–77 2.53	1977–78 3.37
1978–79 3.60	1979–80 (estimate) 6.46

These figures are included in the annual Appropriation Account presented to Parliament. However, under long-standing conventions the figures for equipment destroyed or damaged do not include the cost of flying accidents to Service aircraft or accidents at sea to RN ships.The cost of flying accidents over the last five calendar years is as follows:

£m.
1975—17.1	1976—29.3	1977—29.8
1978—22.8	1979—32.6

The cost of accidents at sea to RN ships is not recorded separately.