To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what (a) financial and (b) other contribution his Department has allocated to the (i) European Defence Agency and (ii) EU military staff in (A) 2008-09, (B) 2009-10 and (C) 2010-11. (312656)

The Ministry of Defence’s financial and personnel contribution to the European Defence Agency (EDA) and European Union Military Staff (EUMS) are provided in the following table. The Department’s wider contributions to these organisations has included the loan or use of equipment and systems in support of testing and trials, and the provision of expert knowledge and advice through the UK’s military operational experience. UK support of the EU military capability helps strengthen the Common Security and Defence Policy and Europe’s contribution to NATO, both of which are in our national interest.